French court set to rule on Marine Le Pen's embezzlement appeal, could affect 2027 presidential race
A French court will decide Tuesday whether to uphold Marine Le Pen's embezzlement conviction, a ruling that may bar her from the 2027 presidential election and shape the National Rally's leadership.
A Paris court will deliver its decision on Tuesday regarding Marine Le Pen's appeal of a March 2025 embezzlement conviction tied to the National Rally's use of European Parliament funds for staff salaries. The original judgment imposed a five-year ban on holding public office.
Legal analysts say the outcome will be pivotal for the upcoming presidential election and for the far-right party founded by Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 1972. If the conviction is overturned, Le Pen, 57, could run for president again, potentially marking her fourth candidacy. Should the ruling be upheld, she is expected to step aside for Jordan Bardella, the party's 30-year-old president and longtime protégé.
The case is being watched closely as it may influence the National Rally's strategy and its role in French politics ahead of the 2027 vote.
