Marine Le Pen’s political future – and potentially the course of France’s 2027 presidential election – will be decided at 13:30 on Tuesday, when the Paris Court of Appeal rules on whether to uphold her five-year ban from holding public office over allegations of embezzling EU funds.
If the ruling is upheld, it would effectively end Le Pen’s presidential ambitions and leave Jordan Bardella as the National Rally’s (RN) likely candidate for the Élysée.
Despite her conviction, the 57-year-old three-time presidential candidate remains the strongest individual contender, polling 32% in the first round. Bardella, however, is polling between 35% and 37%, according to an Ifop-Fiducial survey released last month.
“Whatever happens, I will not be dead; whatever happens, I will continue to fight for my ideas,” Le Pen told LCI.
Euronews examines the ruling, what is at stake, and the possible outcomes.
