France Marine Le Pen appeal verdict: Will the far-right leader be barred from the French presidency?
By:
Romain BRUNET
Issued on: 05/07/2026 - 11:53
Modified: 05/07/2026 - 13:24
The long-awaited verdict holds major implications for France's political future. After months of waiting, the Paris Court of Appeal is due to rule on Tuesday on whether France's far-right figurehead, Marine Le Pen, is eligible to run in the country's 2027 presidential elections.
Le Pen, the long-time face of the National Rally (RN) party, is appealing a 2025 case in which she was convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds to pay her party's employees. The conviction led to her being barred from running for public office for five years.
An acquittal is considered unlikely. But Le Pen might also see her penalty reduced, which could allow her to run for office. Or she could face a renewed conviction in line with the prosecution’s demands – effectively quashing any hopes of running for the presidency.
Le Pen has already run for president three times, but her popularity has risen significantly since her last attempt in 2022. As the clear front-runner in the polls for both the first and second rounds of the upcoming elections, she is well aware that her political fate lies with the July 7 decision.
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https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260705-marine-le-pen-appeal-will-she-be-barred-from-running-for-french-presidency