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46m ago

Le Pen Opens Appeal That Could Decide 2027 Bid, Signals New Defense

The court’s ruling expected before summer will determine if her five-year ineligibility from a 2025 conviction is upheld.

En quelques phrases, Marine Le Pen a posé les bases de ce qui sera sa défense de la dernière chance devant la cour d’appel.
French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, and member of parliament Jean-Philippe Tanguy attend a debate following French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's first general policy speech in front of the parliament and the new government at the National Assembly in Paris, France, October 14, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) political party, and French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen talk to journalists as they leave after a meeting with the French Prime Minister as part of a series of consultations with political parties, a week before a confidence vote he is seeking from the National Assembly on the budget issue, at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Paris Court of Appeal opened hearings on Jan. 13 for Le Pen, the National Rally and multiple co-defendants over alleged diversion of European Parliament assistant funds, with sessions scheduled through Feb. 12.
  • Addressing the court, Le Pen said she had no feeling of having committed any offence, accepted a wrongdoing might have occurred without intent, and criticized the European Parliament’s lack of alerting oversight.
  • In first instance in March 2025, she received four years’ imprisonment including two firm, a €100,000 fine and immediate five-year ineligibility, with more than €3 million in damages awarded to the European Parliament and a €2 million fine for the RN.
  • A decision is expected before summer, and if the conviction is confirmed Le Pen can seek cassation, with the Court of Cassation’s president indicating a possible expedited review.
  • The RN has designated party president Jordan Bardella as fallback for 2027, and reports of U.S. internal sanctions discussions over French magistrates have been publicly denied by American officials.