Le Pen faces ban verdict as Bardella pledges succession
A Paris court will rule this week on whether Marine Le Pen can run in the 2027 French presidential election, a verdict that could either cement her as the frontrunner or force a sudden succession that reshapes the country's political and economic landscape.
A Paris appeals court will rule on Tuesday whether Marine Le Pen is eligible to stand in the 2027 presidential election. The decision follows a March 2025 lower court ruling that found the National Rally figurehead at the heart of a "fraudulent system" used to siphon €2.9 million from European Parliament funds.
The verdict carries significant weight for European markets and the eurozone's second-largest economy. President Emmanuel Macron is barred from running again after reaching his two-term limit, leaving the 2027 race wide open. Le Pen, who lost to Macron in the second rounds of both the 2017 and 2022 elections, is widely viewed as having her best chance at the top job next year.
Anticipating the ruling, Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, the party's president, used a rally in Liévin to present a unified front. "Here’s a little message for those who think that putting obstacles in our way is enough to discourage us. We will never be discouraged," Le Pen said.
If the court upholds the ban, Le Pen promised to support her protégé Bardella "every day," "with great energy," and "with great conviction and great confidence." Bardella told the crowd he hoped "to see her elected president of the Republic in a few months’ time." He also stated: "I want to reaffirm my full support, my complete friendship, and remind her that I committed myself to her in politics."
The display of unity was aimed at quashing rumours of internal dissent between the two leaders ahead of the election. However, the event fell short of expectations, with a number of seats remaining empty despite the party anticipating at least 1,200 activists would attend the "country banquet."
While policy took a back seat, the RN leaders targeted their main rivals. They accused Jean-Luc Mélenchon of promoting a "racialist policy" and branded former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe as "mini-Macrons."
Regardless of Tuesday's outcome, the National Rally's succession plan ensures the populist right remains a central force in French public life. Investors and businesses will now wait to see whether the 2027 race features Le Pen or a new standard-bearer in Bardella.
