Paris, March 30, 2025 – French far-right leader Marine Le Pen awaits a critical court ruling on Monday that she warns could spell her “political death.” The 56-year-old National Rally chief and 24 party officials are accused of embezzling European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016, allegedly using money meant for EU aides to pay party staff, violating bloc rules. A guilty verdict could bar Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election, a race she’s poised to contest after finishing runner-up to Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and 2022.
The nine-week trial, concluded late 2024, saw Le Pen deny wrongdoing, but she told judges, “I feel we didn’t convince you.” Prosecutors seek a two-year prison sentence and five years of ineligibility—potentially effective immediately, even with an appeal. Such a ban could derail her campaign, leaving 11 million supporters without their candidate, she argued. An appeal would trigger a retrial in 2026, uncomfortably close to the election.
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Friday’s Constitutional Council ruling affirmed that immediate ineligibility aligns with French law but urged judges to ensure proportionality, balancing voter rights. The court could suspend any ban pending appeal, offering Le Pen a lifeline. Her party, rebranded from the National Front, has shed its extremist past under her decade-long effort to mainstream it, boosting her 2022 vote to 41.5%—a far-right record.
If barred, 29-year-old Jordan Bardella, party leader since 2021, could step in. A rising star and potential prime minister pick, Bardella’s appeal remains untested against Le Pen’s seasoned draw. As the verdict looms, Le Pen’s political future—and France’s far-right trajectory—hangs in the balance, with ripple effects for millions of voters.
Key Points: Marine Le Pen’s Verdict Looms
- Verdict Pending: On Monday, March 31, 2025, a French court will rule on whether Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party embezzled EU funds from 2004-2016, potentially barring her from the 2027 presidential race.
- Charges: Le Pen and 24 party officials allegedly misused European Parliament aide funds to pay party staff, violating EU rules; she denies wrongdoing after a nine-week trial in late 2024.
- Political Stakes: A guilty verdict could impose immediate ineligibility, halting her candidacy despite an appeal, which she calls her “political death”; prosecutors seek two years in prison and five years’ ineligibility.
- Legal Context: The Constitutional Council ruled Friday that immediate bans are constitutional but must be proportionate, leaving the court flexibility to suspend penalties pending appeal.
- Le Pen’s Profile: A two-time presidential runner-up (2022: 41.5%), Le Pen has mainstreamed the National Rally, distancing it from its extremist roots; a ban would impact 11 million voters.
- Potential Successor: Jordan Bardella, 29, party leader since 2021, could replace her, though his voter appeal is unproven compared to Le Pen’s.
