Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has embarked on a pivotal legal battle that will determine her political future. She is appealing a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds, a verdict that currently bars her from standing in the 2027 presidential election.
The Conviction and the Stakes for 2027
In a case that has rocked French politics, Le Pen was found guilty alongside 24 other party officials of diverting more than €3 million in EU parliamentary funds. The money, intended to pay for assistants, was allegedly used to finance the RN party's own activities between 2005 and 2012. The court handed Le Pen a four-year prison sentence and, critically, banned her from public office for five years.
This ban directly threatens her ambition to challenge President Emmanuel Macron next year. Before the conviction, Le Pen was a frontrunner in polls for the 2027 race, with her anti-immigration and populist policies garnering significant support. The RN is the largest opposition party in France.
Le Pen's Defence and the "Political" Ruling
Le Pen has vehemently denied any criminal wrongdoing, dismissing the trial's outcome as a "political decision" and a "violation of the rule of law". She argues the case revolves around an administrative discrepancy rather than fraud, claiming the employed staff did legitimate party work.
The prosecution, however, presented evidence suggesting the scheme was deliberate. Judges cited an email where an MEP warned the party treasurer the arrangement created "fake jobs" and would lead to legal repercussions. The treasurer reportedly replied, "I do believe that Marine knows all of this".
Potential Outcomes and the RN's "Plan B"
The appeal, set for a complete rehearing of the case, is being fast-tracked with a ruling expected in summer 2026. If successful, the provisional ban will be lifted, clearing the path for Le Pen's presidential campaign.
Should she lose, the ban stands. The RN insists it has a contingency plan: Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's 30-year-old protégé and the party's current president. While popular on platforms like TikTok, Bardella's relative inexperience is seen by some as a potential weakness. Senior RN figure Jean-Lin Lacapelle stated, "We have a plan B... If Marine cannot run then she will be Jordan's biggest supporter. They will win together."
Le Pen herself has acknowledged the challenge, telling RTL radio she is committed to seeing her party's ideas come to power. She has also praised Bardella, saying he "has the qualities to hold any job that requires determination, ideals, and a deep love for the country." The coming weeks in court will decide whether she leads that charge herself.
