France’s far-right standard-bearer Marine Le Pen appeared in a Paris court on Tuesday as judges began hearing her appeal against a conviction that could abruptly end her presidential ambitions.
The 57-year-old National Rally (RN) leader is seeking to overturn the March 2025 verdict. Misuse of European Parliament funds.
The court banned him from holding public office for five years with immediate effect, sentenced him to four years in prison (two years of which were suspended), and fined him 100,000 euros.
Le Pen arrived at court without speaking to reporters. The hearing began in a packed courtroom attended by journalists and members of the public and is expected to run until February 12. A verdict is expected to be handed down before the summer.
Until last year’s conviction, Le Pen was seen as the likely successor to the incumbent. President Emmanuel Macron, Those who are prohibited from seeking a third term.
At the heart of the case are accusations that RN officials used EU funds earmarked for parliamentary aides to fund party officials between 2004 and 2016, in violation of European rules.
Prosecutors argued that some of the aides were primarily engaged in domestic political activities rather than work in the EU parliament.
Le Pen and her co-defendants have consistently denied wrongdoing. Addressing the court on Tuesday, she said the appeal focuses on both the criminal and civil aspects of the case.
She insisted she had no intention of committing a crime and accused the European Parliament of failing to raise concerns at the time.
“Nothing was hidden,” she told the court, pointing to publicly available contracts, organizational charts and media reports.
Her position was challenged by Patrick Maisonneuve, a lawyer representing the European Parliament, who rejected claims that there was insufficient oversight.
A total of 11 defendants and the National Assembly as a legal entity have appealed the convictions, which will be heard in court.
Party veteran Bruno Gornisch reiterated a long-standing line of defence, insisting that EU parliamentary aides are necessarily involved in national political life and that “politics is a collective sport”.
The political implications of the appeal could be far-reaching. If Le Pen is ultimately banned from running in 2027, attention will turn to what’s next. jordan bardellaa 30-year-old party leader.
Polls have already suggested that Bardera is more popular than Le Pen and could win the presidential election alone.
Mr. Bardera publicly rallied to support Ms. Le Pen. In his New Year’s address to the press on Monday, he pledged his “full support” and warned that it would be “very worrying for our democracy” if the courts prevented voters from choosing candidates who have twice made it to the second round of presidential elections.
Marine Le Pen stepped down as party leader in 2021 to focus on the presidential election, handing over power to Bardera.