French court decision could block Marine Le Pen from 2027 presidential race
Marine Le Pen warned that a ruling barring her from the 2027 election would shift her focus to supporting party heir Jordan Bardella, as she faces a legal challenge that may end her candidacy.
Marine Le Pen told supporters in Liévin that if a Paris appeal court prevents her from standing in the 2027 presidential election, she will devote her efforts to backing Jordan Bardella, the National Rally's young leader. The 57-year-old, who has run for president three times and led the party since 2011, is currently ahead in polls for next year’s vote, with incumbent Emmanuel Macron not seeking re-election.
Le Pen, a trained lawyer, has faced several legal proceedings, including a 2015 conviction for misuse of European Parliament funds and a 2015 acquittal of incitement charges. Observers noted her remarks in Liévin suggested a possible transition of leadership to Bardella.
Her political career began in the early 1990s after joining the National Front, later rebranded as the National Rally, and she has been the movement’s most prominent figure for more than a decade. While she has softened the party’s overt extremist rhetoric, its core anti-immigration platform remains unchanged.
If the court rules against her, Le Pen said she would “devote my energy to supporting my young protege Jordan Bardella.” The outcome could determine whether the National Rally’s leadership passes to the next generation ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
