France Appeal Court to Rule on Marine Le Pen EU Funds Case and Office Ban

France’s appeal court is scheduled to deliver its verdict July 7 on whether Marine Le Pen and other National Rally members misused European Parliament funds to hire aides between 2004 and 2016. A Paris criminal court convicted Le Pen in March 2025 of directing a system that diverted 2.9 million euros in EU funds.

The court imposed a five-year ban from elected office, sentenced her to two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, and fined the National Rally party 2 million euros, half of it suspended.

Le Pen told LCI last week that she would not run for president if required to wear the bracelet. “If I can be a candidate, I will be a candidate, provided that I am able to campaign,” she said. ” Le Pen was ordered to stand trial in 2023 after a seven-year investigation that also named more than two dozen other defendants.

She and the party have denied the charges, arguing the funds were used legitimately. If the appeal court upholds the conviction and the five-year ban, Le Pen cannot stand in the presidential election whose first round is set for April 18, 2027. She has said she would then appeal to the Court of Cassation, which reviews legal application rather than facts and typically takes about six months.

If the court lifts or shortens the ban to two years or less, Le Pen could enter the race. If she is barred, her 30-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella would likely run instead. Le Pen is viewed as a leading contender to succeed President Emmanuel Macron if allowed to stand.