Marine Le Pen has intensified pressure on judges at the Paris Appeal Court as they prepare to rule on whether she is eligible to stand in the 2027 French presidential election. The court’s decision is expected to have significant implications for the race, potentially barring the leader of the National Rally party from running due to a conviction related to the misuse of European Parliament funds.
Le Pen, 57, who has led the right-wing populist party since 2011 and previously ran for president three times, including twice against Emmanuel Macron, faces a legal appeal alongside 11 other defendants. The group was found guilty last year of improperly using €4.3 million of parliamentary funds between 2004 and 2016, including employing parliamentary assistants for party work and in some cases as personal aides. Le Pen was sentenced to two years under house arrest with an electronic ankle tag and disqualified from holding office for five years.
During the appeal proceedings, Le Pen has moderated her tone compared to her earlier protestations of innocence and accusations of political bias. Analysts suggest her legal strategy is focused on reducing the severity of the sentence rather than overturning the conviction altogether. A shortened ban would potentially expire before the first round of voting on April 18, 2027, allowing her to participate in the election.
Le Pen has also complicated matters by stating that she would decline to run if she remained under house arrest conditions requiring judicial permission to leave her home. The ruling is expected to be delivered soon, placing significant pressure on Michèle Agi, the presiding judge.
Should Le Pen be barred from candidacy, the party has indicated that Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old chairman of National Rally, would be her replacement. Recent polls suggest Bardella enjoys slightly higher public support than Le Pen, with a survey showing the National Rally could secure 36 percent of the first-round vote under Bardella compared to 32 percent with Le Pen. Macron’s former prime minister Édouard Philippe trails behind the National Rally candidates by a large margin in polling.
Despite Bardella’s popularity, some within National Rally prefer Le Pen as the candidate due to her extensive campaign experience. Bardella, who has led the party in legislative and European elections, has faced criticism and scrutiny for his relatively glamorous lifestyle and perceived lack of readiness for a presidential campaign.
Le Pen and Bardella have both emphasized party unity regardless of the court’s decision. Speaking to supporters, Le Pen pledged her full backing of Bardella if she is disqualified, describing their relationship as one of “great friendship and great trust.” Bardella likewise affirmed his support should Le Pen be permitted to run.
Political commentators note possible tensions between the two candidates, particularly over economic policy. Le Pen advocates for welfare programs targeted at native working-class voters, while Bardella endorses more business-friendly policies. Both share a hardline approach on immigration, a key issue in their platform.
With the court judgment imminent, the National Rally’s leadership faces a critical juncture that could reshape the dynamics of the 2027 presidential election in France.