French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will on Tuesday learn whether she can contest next year’s presidential election. This is because a Paris appeal court prepares to rule on her embezzlement conviction.
According to BBC, the Le Pen appeal verdict will determine whether the National Rally figure can remain in the race for the 2027 French presidency. She currently leads early opinion polls.
Le Pen, who has contested the presidency three times, finished second behind Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and 2022. The first round of the next election will take place on April 18, 2027. The run-off will follow on May 2.
A court barred Le Pen from holding public office for five years in March 2025 after finding her guilty of embezzling €1.4m in European Parliament funds. Prosecutors said she used the money to pay party employees between 2004 and 2016. Instead, the money was meant for parliamentary assistants.
The court also handed her a four-year jail term. Two years are suspended and two years must be served at home with an electronic tag.
During the appeal hearing, Le Pen denied organising the scheme. However, she admitted to “a mistake” that allowed some parliamentary aides to work “for the benefit of the party.”
Prosecutors want the court to uphold the five-year public office ban and impose a four-year jail term. This includes one year with an electronic tag and three years suspended.
Le Pen has said she remains calm ahead of the verdict. Still, she admitted that a ban would affect her political future.
“Whatever happens I won’t be dead, whatever happens I’ll continue to fight for my ideas,” she said.
The Le Pen appeal carries major consequences for France’s political landscape. If the court clears her or reduces her ban to two years or less, she can run in 2027. If the court upholds a longer ban, she will miss the election.
If judges block her candidacy, National Rally chairman Jordan Bardella will likely replace her as the party’s presidential candidate.
Le Pen has already described Bardella as her stand-in option. She said she would support him if the court stops her from running.
“If justice bars me from standing for the presidency,” she said, she would back him with “great energy, great conviction and great confidence.”
Bardella, who became National Rally chairman in 2022, has also publicly backed Le Pen ahead of the ruling.
The Le Pen appeal also affects several other National Rally figures. In fact, 24 people received convictions in the same case in March 2025, including lawmakers and party officials.
Le Pen has until 10 days after the verdict to decide whether to challenge any unfavourable ruling at France’s Court of Cassation. Although, such a move could delay her campaign for several months.
