Marine Le Pen, a prominent figure in French far-right politics, faces a critical ruling Tuesday from a Paris appeals court that will decide her eligibility to compete in the 2027 presidential election. If the court upholds a previous conviction, Le Pen could be barred from holding elected office, potentially opening the door for Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of her National Rally party, to run in her stead.
The legal challenge stems from a March 2025 ruling that found Le Pen and other National Rally officials guilty of misusing European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. The accusation is that the funds were used to hire aides who primarily worked for the party rather than performing parliamentary duties.
Should the appeals court confirm the conviction, Le Pen could face penalties ranging from a ban on holding public office to an electronic tag, or a combination of sanctions.
Evolution of the National Rally
The National Rally party, formerly known as the National Front, has undergone significant transformation, with Le Pen and Bardella playing central roles in its rise. Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine Le Pen's father, founded the party in the 1970s, establishing its platform on anti-immigration and nationalist policies. He faced multiple convictions for antisemitism and inciting racial violence.
Marine Le Pen took over leadership of the party in 2011, initiating efforts to broaden its appeal and shed its more extreme image. She later expelled her father from the party following controversial remarks. Her first presidential bid in 2012 saw her secure nearly 18% of the vote.
In 2017, Le Pen reached the presidential runoff against Emmanuel Macron but lost. The party was renamed National Rally in 2018 as part of Le Pen's strategy to make it more palatable to mainstream voters.
Jordan Bardella, born in 1995 to parents of Italian and Algerian heritage, grew up in a disadvantaged area and joined the National Front at 17. He rose through the party ranks, becoming a spokesperson and later leading the National Rally's list in the European Parliament elections in 2019, where the party topped the polls in France. He was elected a Member of the European Parliament and became one of the party's vice presidents. In 2022, Bardella was elected president of the National Rally.
Le Pen again reached the presidential runoff in 2022, achieving over 41% of the vote against Macron, marking the strongest performance to date for France's far right in a presidential election. Subsequently, the National Rally became the largest single party in the National Assembly, though without an outright majority.
The Paris Court of Appeal's decision is expected on Tuesday, just months before the next presidential election is scheduled for April 18 and May 2, 2027, to elect a successor to Macron, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.