French prosecutors ask court to bar Marine Le Pen from office, putting 2027 bid at risk
Prosecutors will ask a Paris appeals court to ban Marine Le Pen and National Rally officials from holding office after a conviction for misusing EU parliamentary funds.
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By Torontoer Staff
French prosecutors on Tuesday said they will ask a Paris appeals court to bar Marine Le Pen and several National Rally officials from holding public office, a move that could prevent the far-right leader from running in the 2027 presidential election. The request comes during an appeal of a March 2025 conviction for misusing European Parliament funds to pay party aides between 2004 and 2016.
Le Pen, 57, is contesting that conviction. The appeal trial, which began last month, involves 10 other defendants and names the National Rally as a legal entity. The court is expected to deliver a verdict possibly before summer.
Prosecutors describe deliberate misappropriation
Prosecutors framed the case as an organised scheme that allowed the party to benefit from substantial savings at the expense of the European Parliament. Thierry Ramonatxo, one of the prosecutors, called the alleged diversion of public funds "a very serious breach of probity" that provided the party with "a concrete advantage in the form of substantial savings made at the expense of the European Parliament."
The alleged misappropriation of public funds represents a very serious breach of probity that gave the party a concrete advantage in the form of substantial savings made at the expense of the European Parliament.
Thierry Ramonatxo, prosecutor
Another prosecutor, Stéphane Madoz-Blanchet, said investigators uncovered "a system" set up by party leaders, and that the acts were "deliberately and carefully concealed." Prosecutors will ask the appeals court to find party officials guilty and impose bans on holding elected office. Sentencing requests are expected to be detailed later.
Le Pen's defence and courtroom remarks
In court Le Pen acknowledged some people paid as European Parliament aides performed work for the party, then known as the National Front, and described the situation as "a mistake." She has argued the payments reflected routine parliamentary staffing practices rather than deliberate fraud.
I never expect a pleasant surprise when I set foot in a courtroom. I’m not the one who decides. I don’t hold the cards.
Marine Le Pen
The appeal hearing is scheduled to run until next week. If the appeals court confirms a conviction and imposes an office ban, the political consequences would be immediate for Le Pen and the National Rally.
Consequences for the 2027 presidential race
Before the original conviction, Le Pen was widely seen as a leading contender for the 2027 presidency. A confirmed conviction could bar her candidacy. Prosecutors noted that, if convicted again, defendants could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to €1-million.
Party strategists already have contingency plans. Le Pen has named Jordan Bardella, a 30-year-old party protégé, as her preferred substitute for the presidential bid if she becomes ineligible. That choice would shift the party’s campaign dynamic and raise questions about its appeal to voters ahead of the election.
Possible outcomes and next steps
- Acquittal on appeal, which would remove the immediate legal threat to Le Pen’s candidacy.
- Confirmation of the conviction without an office ban, which could still damage her political standing.
- Confirmation with a ban on holding public office, which would force the National Rally to nominate an alternate candidate for 2027.
The appeals court’s decision will shape France’s political calendar. A ban would mark one of the most consequential legal setbacks for a major party leader in recent French history, and it would force the National Rally to recalibrate its strategy less than two years before the presidential vote.
For now, the trial continues and the court’s ruling remains uncertain. Observers will be watching for the appeals court’s written decision, which is expected in the weeks ahead and could determine whether Le Pen remains an active contender in national politics.
Marine Le PenNational RallyFrancePoliticsEuropean Parliament
