The French right-wing politician could be declared unelectable.Image: keystone
Three French judges could stop the right-wing politician’s presidential candidacy this Tuesday. Le Pen is clinging to one last straw.
July 6, 2026, 1:51 p.mJuly 6, 2026, 1:51 p.m
Is Marine Le Pen slowly becoming fatalistic? During an election appearance in the northern French town of Liévin, the otherwise energetic right-wing politician gave the impression that she no longer believed in her candidacy. “Whatever happens on July 7th, I will continue my fight. If I can’t be a candidate, I’ll just be a supporter of the party,” she said.
In that case, she will support her successor Jordan Bardella as presidential candidate “with great energy, conviction and great trust.” It also sounded as if she had already internalized her conviction in the second instance.
The background to her statements is the criminal proceedings that are ongoing against the parliamentary group leader of the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN). In March 2025 she was sentenced to four years in prison for the fictitious employment of EU assistants. She is on probation for two years and has to complete two years with an ankle bracelet.
Marine Le Pen with her potential successor Jordan Bardella.Image: Firas Abdullah
The court of first instance declared Le Pen “unelectable” for a period of five years. The daughter of party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, who is very well placed in the polls, would therefore not be able to run in the 2027 presidential elections.
Little chance of an acquittal
Le Pen has challenged the ruling in an appeals court. It wants to announce on July 7th, this Tuesday, whether the verdict will be confirmed or not. Lawyers believe the chances of an acquittal are slim. According to French jurisprudence, if the prison sentence is confirmed, this systematically results in ineligibility.
The RN boss has a small chance: If the appeal court reduces ineligibility to two years, the exclusion from electoral politics would begin in March 2025 – the time of the first instance ruling. This would mean that Le Pen could take part in the two rounds of elections in April and May 2027.
However, the three appeal judges probably have little reason to reduce the sentence. Unless they agree with an earlier finding by the Court of Cassation, according to which the judiciary should endeavor not to influence the conduct and outcome of elections.
Le Pen also said at their meeting in Liévin that a court should not have the opportunity to “thwart the democratic functioning of our country.” However, her own supporters were astonished that the experienced polemicist hardly bothered with this political argument; Contrary to her custom, she no longer portrays herself as a victim of justice.
Bardella’s “Patriots” are also being investigated
Le Pen and Bardella also have little idea about the legal accusation of embezzlement. The 30-year-old party leader only expressed his hope that Le Pen would be “elected president in a few months.” “She has my total support, my total friendship.”
In this matter, however, some differences in course differences between the two RN grandees have come to light in recent weeks, especially in questions of economic policy. Bardella is not involved in Le Pen’s embezzlement scandal. Last week, however, it became known that the “Patriots for Europe” (PfE) faction in the EU Parliament, which he led, may have used funds illegally. Investigations are ongoing. (schweiztoday.ch)