The Paris Court of Appeal will issue its decision today, July 7, in the case involving the alleged fraudulent employment of parliamentary assistants by the former National Front (now the National Rally).
Marine Le Pen, the party’s leader, is accused of complicity in a system that illegally used European Parliament funds to pay party staff. In March 2025, the court of first instance found her guilty and sentenced her to four years in prison (two years suspended), a fine of €100,000, and five years of ineligibility with immediate effect.
Today’s appeal ruling will determine whether Marine Le Pen can run in the 2027 presidential election. Under French law, an ineligibility sentence of more than two years would prevent her from standing as a candidate.
If the conviction is upheld or the penalty is not significantly reduced, Jordan Bardella, the current president of the National Rally, is expected to become the party’s main candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The court’s decision is expected after 1:30 p.m. local time. Marine Le Pen is scheduled to give a live interview on TF1 television channel in the evening.
The case, which has been under investigation for over ten years, concerns allegations of illegal party financing amounting to approximately €4 million.