French Court to Decide Marine Le Pen's Eligibility for Presidential Run Amid Legal Battle

The Paris Court of Appeals is set to deliver a final verdict today on Marine Le Pen's eligibility to run for the French presidency, following a lower court's disqualification. The decision centers on Le Pen's conviction in March 2025 for misappropriating nearly three million euros of European Union funds to finance political activists within her party. She was sentenced to five years of immediate disqualification from holding any public office, a ruling that shocked her party and sparked a fierce public campaign against the judiciary.

Le Pen promptly appealed the ruling, vowing not to concede and emphasizing her determination to fight for her political future. Her close allies describe the legal setback as a catalyst that intensified her resolve. The party has also prepared a contingency plan, naming 31-year-old Jordan Bardella as a potential successor, though he publicly maintains loyalty to Le Pen and dismisses any notion of undermining her.

During the January appeal hearings, Le Pen adopted a more conciliatory defense, acknowledging the accusations but pleading for leniency under EU regulations. Prosecutors have requested the five-year ban remain but without immediate enforcement, leaving a narrow legal opening for her candidacy if the sentence is suspended.

With polls showing strong support for the party and its candidates, the political stakes are high. Party members anxiously await the court's ruling, which could either clear the path for Le Pen's fourth presidential bid or force a leadership transition that would reshape the upcoming election. As one party insider put it, the entire movement is eager for a definitive resolution to move forward toward the Élysée Palace.