Paris: France is awaiting a landmark court verdict, that could determine whether far-right leader Marine Le Pen is eligible to contest the country’s 2027 presidential election, a decision expected to have major political consequences.
Le Pen, leader of the National Rally (RN), has consistently topped opinion polls ahead of next year’s election. However, her candidacy now depends on the outcome of an appeal in a case involving the misuse of European Parliament funds.
The Paris appeals court will decide whether to uphold, overturn or modify a 2025 ruling that found Le Pen guilty of overseeing a system in which party employees in France were falsely listed as parliamentary assistants in the European Parliament, allowing their salaries to be paid with EU funds.
The original verdict sentenced Le Pen to two years of home detention with electronic monitoring and imposed a five-year ban from holding public office. The ban took immediate effect, prompting Le Pen to appeal the ruling, calling it a politically motivated attempt to block her presidential ambitions.
The ruling is expected to be decisive. If the court upholds the five-year ban, Le Pen will almost certainly be barred from the presidential race. If she is acquitted, she will remain free to run.
Legal experts are also watching for the possibility of a reduced period of ineligibility. A shorter ban could technically allow Le Pen to contest the election, although any requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device during the campaign could severely limit her ability to travel and campaign across the country.
Should Le Pen be ruled ineligible, National Rally president Jordan Bardella is widely expected to become the party’s presidential candidate. At 30, Bardella has emerged as one of France’s most prominent political figures and currently polls strongly, though analysts believe his limited campaign experience could become a factor during the election.
The verdict may not necessarily end the legal battle, as either Le Pen or prosecutors could still appeal to France’s highest court, potentially creating further uncertainty in the months leading up to the election.
Beyond its legal significance, the ruling is expected to shape the future of the National Rally and could redefine the landscape of French politics ahead of one of the country’s most closely watched presidential elections in recent years.
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