Marine Le Pen is set to learn whether she can contest France’s 2027 presidential election as a Paris appeal court delivers its verdict on her electoral ban. Le Pen was convicted in 2025 for embezzling more than €4 million in European Parliament funds and received a five-year ban from holding public office. She has denied any wrongdoing and appealed the ruling.

If the court upholds the ban, Jordan Bardella is expected to become the presidential candidate for the National Rally. Opinion polls suggest Bardella would remain a strong contender, although Le Pen has played a key role in transforming the party into one of France’s leading political forces over the past decade.

The appeal court could also reduce or remove the electoral ban while still upholding her conviction, potentially allowing Le Pen to run. However, if her prison sentence, including home detention with electronic monitoring, remains unchanged, campaigning would become significantly more difficult. Le Pen is expected to address the nation in a televised interview following the court’s decision.

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