Shortly after an appeals court lifted the ban on Marine Le Pen’s eligibility for the next presidential election while upholding her embezzlement conviction, the French far‑right leader confirmed her intention to run in 2027, noting that she may even be monitored by an electronic փող‑bracelet.
“I am a candidate for the presidential election, and I will not change my decision,” Le Pen said on TF1.
Europe’s right‑wing forces had been closely monitoring the situation, as many expected Le Pen to hand the reins to her protégé, 30‑year‑old Jordan Bardella, a younger, more social‑media‑savvy figure.
The National Rally (RN) opposes globalisation and immigration, seeks stricter border controls, and promotes fewer ecological policies. Le Pen, daughter of the party’s founder, has campaigned for the presidency three times without success.
“It’s like Russian nesting dolls,” RN lawmaker Jean‑Philippe Tanguy said on BFM. “Bardella is part of Marine Le Pen’s political doctrine and remains committed to her.”
In March 2025, Le Pen was convicted of embezz asistentesing European Union funds. The initial ruling barred her from holding public office for five years, but the appeals court reduced the ban to 45 months, 30 of which were suspended. Having already served 15 months, the router has the option to appeal to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest civil court.
Legal scholar Rim‑Sarah Alouane, an associate researcher in public law at the University of Toulouse‑Capitole, warned that an appeal could introduce uncertainties into Le Pen’s campaign, possibly resulting in a final judgement shortly before or during the election. Without an appeal, the incumbent would be running while under a criminal sentence.
Beatrice Guillemont, a legal researcher at the University of Bordeaux, noted that the judicial handling of the case is unusual. The Court of Appeals expedited proceedings to issue a ruling before the 2027 election, and the Court of Cassation is expected to follow suit.
Legal uncertainties into her campaign
Prior to 2020, France’s focus on curbing corruption and strengthening political integrity declined, while political dynamics evolved.
“There are loopholes in the system,” Guillemont observed. “France’s approach to combating corruption is insufficient, reflecting a deeper issue in contemporary democracies.”
Alouane emphasised that eligibility and the logistics of a presidential campaign are distinct matters.
“Running a campaign while under criminal surveillance is unprecedented. Even if judges authorize travel, the compatibility of such monitoring with campaign realities and principles remains in question.”
The far right’s popularity has become normalised in recent years.
A pre‑conviction poll projected that Le Pen could secure up to 37 % of the vote, surpassing her 2022 result by more than 22 points and 10 points ahead of any other candidate.
Following Le Pen’s conviction, Bardella, RN’s rising star, emerged as the likely successor, appealing to a younger demographic that the party has traditionally struggled to reach.
She’s extremely dangerous
In France’s latest parliamentary elections, the proportion of 18‑to‑24‑year‑olds voting for the RN doubled over two years. Bardella, who left college early, joined the party at 16 and, despite never holding public office before털 the European Parliament,орад now presides over the RN.
“Bardella has been poised to become the frontrunner,” Alouane noted, “but Marine Le Pen remains firmly entrenched. She is reluctant to relinquish her influence, highlighting the party’s hereditary, elite nature.”
Should Le Pen succeed, she could appoint Bardella as prime minister.
Baptiste Colin, a 31‑year‑old theatre production assistant from Marseille who votes left, sees Le Pen as a more viable candidate than Bardella.
“Marine is exceptionally persuasive, turning situations to her advantage,” Colin told Al Jazeera. “The left must prepare thoroughly for a new election in which she is a contender.”
Bardella is pro‑corporate and less confrontational towards the EU than Le Pen, positioning himself as an advocate for the average French citizen. His recent announcement of a relationship with Italian princess Maria Carolina de Bourbon des Deux‑Siciles attracted scrutiny.
“Bardella is steering politics toward a liberalisation model similar to that of Italy’s Prime Minister.prototype Meloni,” Colin noted. “In contrast, Marine has maintained a populist stance on economic matters.”
While the Court of Appeals upheld the embezzlement conviction, the reduced penalty appears insufficient to Colin.
“I was once convinced that democracy in my country functioned,” he reflected, adding that organising the left will be a major challenge heading into 2027.
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