Marine Le Pen appeal verdict: Why this moment matters for France

This appeal verdict will decide Le Pen’s political future and in effect fire the starting pistol on the presidential race. The first round is on 18 April 2027, and the run-off is on 2 May.

She was barred from holding public office for five years on 31 March 2025 when a court found her guilty of embezzling €1.4m (£1.2m) in European Parliament (EP) funds to pay her own party employees from 2004-16 instead of parliamentary assistants. Le Pen was a member of the EP (MEP) from 2004-17.

She was also given a four-year jail term, two suspended and two to be served at home with an electronic tag.

Le Pen was found to have either approved or to have tolerated the fake jobs scheme, and the verdict ruled her out of the 2027 election.

During the appeal, heard in January and February, Le Pen denied organising the scam but did admit to “a mistake” that led to some parliamentary aides working “for the benefit of the party”.

Prosecutors want the original five-year ban on public office to stand, with a four-year jail term now including one year served with an electronic tag and three years suspended.

Le Pen says she is not afraid of the decision, but believes it is “not possible” to run for president if the judges decide she must wear a tag.