French Court to Decide Marine Le Pen’s Eligibility for 2027 Presidential Race
A Paris appeals court is set to rule on Tuesday in the financial misconduct case against Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader and a leading candidate in France’s 2027 presidential election. The verdict could determine whether Le Pen, who has a significant chance of winning according to polls, will be allowed to run in the April-May elections.
Le Pen, 57, transformed the National Rally party into France’s largest political force on the right but remains ostracized by moderate right, center, and left factions. In March 2025, she and other party members were convicted of fraud involving falsely claiming European Parliament assistant salaries between 2004 and 2016, when the party faced financial difficulties. Le Pen was sentenced to two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, suspended pending appeal, and banned from holding public office for five years, a ban already in effect. She denies wrongdoing, calling the trial politically motivated to block her presidential bid.
Le Pen hopes to run for president for the fourth time, but if disqualified, her protégé Jordan Bardella, 30, may replace her as the party’s candidate. Bardella also polls well but his youth could be a liability. The best outcome for Le Pen would be a full acquittal, though prosecutors could appeal such a decision to France’s highest court. Alternatively, the appeals court might uphold her conviction but reduce or lift her public office ban, potentially allowing her to run if the ban ends before the April 2027 first round.
During the appeal, Le Pen admitted to a "mistake" but claimed she believed the parliamentary assistant work was legal and accused European Parliament officials of failing to warn her party. Her lawyer urged the judges to consider the impact on her political career. Le Pen also warned she would not run if judicial restrictions prevent her from campaigning freely, stating, "I cannot depend on a judge to approve my rallies or market visits."
Prosecutors have requested a harsher sentence of four years, three suspended, and a five-year ban from office. The appeals court could also impose an immediate ban, as the lower court did. Le Pen has said she will not delay her candidacy decision until close to the election, emphasizing the need for a timely campaign launch. The presidential race is expected to take shape by September, with candidates needing endorsements from 500 elected officials, making late candidate changes difficult.
