Overview

• Marine Le Pen has filed a suspensive appeal with the Lille administrative tribunal to contest her automatic resignation as Pas-de-Calais departmental councillor.
• The Paris tribunal convicted Le Pen on March 31 for embezzling €4.4 million in EU funds, sentencing her to five years of ineligibility and four years of imprisonment, including two years firm.
• The prefecture of Pas-de-Calais notified her of the loss of her local mandate, which Le Pen and RN leaders argue violates her rights and presumption of innocence.
• The Lille administrative tribunal is expected to rule on her appeal within two months, during which time she retains her councillor status.
• This legal battle is viewed as pivotal for Le Pen’s political future and the RN’s leadership strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.