France is awaiting a landmark court ruling that could determine whether far-right leader Marine Le Pen will be eligible to contest the country’s 2027 presidential election.
An appeals court in Paris is expected to rule on Tuesday in Le Pen’s case involving the misuse of European Parliament funds. The verdict could either keep her presidential ambitions alive or bar her from holding public office.
Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, remains one of the leading contenders in opinion polls ahead of next year’s election. However, if the court upholds the earlier ruling that imposed a five-year ban from public office, she would be prevented from running.
The case stems from allegations that National Rally staff in France were improperly paid with European Parliament funds while carrying out party work instead of parliamentary duties. Le Pen was convicted in the initial trial in 2025 and sentenced to two years of home detention with electronic monitoring, alongside the immediate five-year ban from public office.
Her legal team has appealed the decision, arguing that the ruling unfairly interferes with the democratic process.
If Le Pen is disqualified, attention is expected to shift to Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of the National Rally, who is widely viewed as her likely replacement. While polls suggest Bardella could remain competitive, analysts say his relative political inexperience could reshape the dynamics of the presidential race.
Legal experts say the appeals court could also impose a modified sentence, potentially shortening the period of ineligibility. Such a decision could create further legal uncertainty and trigger additional appeals before France’s highest court.
The ruling is expected to have significant implications not only for Le Pen’s political future but also for the direction of French politics ahead of one of the country’s most closely watched presidential elections.
