Did a court decision just alter the outcome a French presidential election that’s less than 300 days in the future? Marine Le Pen’s conviction for funnelling EU parliamentary staff funds to her far-right National Rally party. Watered down by half, her 30-months of ineligibility to run for public office. That makes it now possible for her to launch a fourth bid for the presidency.
But there’s a catch: The 57-year old Le Pen has to wear an electronic bracelet until July of next year. Will she break the promise she made last week not to hit the campaign trail with an ankle that goes beep? Her answer to come in a prime-time television interview. Either way, what role for Le Pen’s understudy, 30-year old Jordan Bardella, dismissed by critics as her puppet, lauded by supporters as the face of renewal for a far-right that’s been a family-run enterprise ever since the days that late patriarch Jean-Marie Le Pen. Does the name of the candidate next April make a difference? More broadly, why is France's far-right more popular than it's ever been in living memory? After the term-limited Emmanuel Macron, will the French really elect a leader who’s expressed admiration for Donald Trump and whose party has previously financed campaigns thanks to Vladimir Putin? Would Europe come apart? We'll look at a France divided between radical right, hard left and a splintered center. Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri, Ilayda Habip.
