Overview
- Marine Le Pen says she will "obviously not" run if her five-year ineligibility is confirmed on appeal in the European parliamentary assistants case.
- She will announce her decision immediately after the court of appeal’s ruling, with no wait for a possible Cour de cassation review.
- The appeal hearing is set for January 13 to February 12, 2026, with a deliberation expected about four months later and an announcement planned for the summer.
- The Rassemblement National plans to finalize its nominee before the summer holidays under the timetable she outlined.
- Le Pen frames the schedule to avoid jeopardizing Jordan Bardella’s potential candidacy, while Bardella publicly affirms her legitimacy and downplays any rift.