Overview
- The Paris Court of Appeal is set to hear the case from January 13 to February 12, with Marine Le Pen scheduled to be questioned on January 20 and 21.
- The execution provisoire from her March 31 conviction remains in force, removing local mandates and barring a 2027 bid unless the appellate court changes it.
- Le Pen’s lawyers have shifted to technical arguments stressing ambiguous European Parliament rules and lack of intent, seeking at least to lift the provisional enforcement or cut the ineligibility period.
- A scenario discussed by the defense would reduce ineligibility to two years, which could restore eligibility because the clock has run since the first-instance ruling.
- RN publicly maintains Le Pen as its candidate while an unofficial plan B centers on Jordan Bardella, who leads in several polls, as the appeal’s outcome carries significant political consequences.