Paris Appeals Court to Rule Tuesday on Marine Le Pen Embezzlement Appeal

Paris’ appeals court is scheduled to rule on Tuesday in Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement case. The decision will determine whether the 57-year-old National Rally leader can stand as a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election. Le Pen is appealing a March 2025 conviction that found her and other National Rally members guilty of paying party staff with funds intended for European Parliament assistants between 2004 and 2016.

The lower court sentenced her to suspended prison time and imposed a five-year ban on holding elected office that has been in effect since March 31, 2025. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing. During the five-week appeal trial she acknowledged a mistake but stated that some employees paid as EU parliamentary aides performed work for her party and that she believed the practice was allowed.

She also said she never attempted to hide the hiring and reproached European Parliament officials for not warning her party that it might violate the rules. ” The first round of the French presidential election is scheduled for April 2027.