French Far-Right Leader Marine Le Pen’s Conviction and Appeal
PARIS: A French appeals court said on Tuesday it would examine Marine Le Pen’s case within a timeframe that could potentially allow the far-right leader to contest the 2027 presidential election if her conviction is overturned.
In a court ruling many commentators called a political earthquake, Le Pen on Monday was given a prison term and fine after being convicted of a fake jobs scheme at the EU parliament. However, the most serious part of the conviction was a five-year ban – effective immediately – on standing for office, which eliminates her from the race.
Le Pen was convicted for a scheme where her National Rally (RN) party was found to have eased the pressure on its own finances by using European Parliament monthly allowances to pay "fictitious" parliamentary assistants, who actually worked for the party. Twenty-four people – including Le Pen – were convicted, all of them RN party officials or assistants.
Addressing her lawmakers Tuesday, Le Pen, who considered herself the favourite in the 2027 election in which President Emmanuel Macron cannot stand again, accused "the system" of rolling out "the nuclear bomb" to end her presidential hopes. "If they use such a powerful weapon against us, it’s obviously because we’re about to win an election," Le Pen, 56, said.
The Paris court of appeal said later Tuesday that it would examine Le Pen’s case "within a timeframe that should allow a decision to be reached in the summer of 2026." This could mean that the new trial would be held by early 2026, and that the decision would therefore be handed down well before the 2027 presidential election, in which Le Pen wants to run for the fourth time.
Reasonable Timeframe
In a statement, the court said it had received three appeals against the rulings handed down on Monday. The announcement was made after justice minister Gerald Darmanin, speaking during a tense parliament session, expressed hope that Le Pen’s appeal would be heard within the "most reasonable timeframe."
Plan B
Should Le Pen lose her appeal, there is also a "plan B", a candidacy by her protege and RN party leader Jordan Bardella, a 29-year-old with a slick television and social media presence. The atmosphere in parliament was particularly tense on Tuesday.
Reactions
Le Pen’s conviction sparked angry reactions from far-right figures across Europe but also from the Kremlin, X owner Elon Musk and Trump, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed concern. "She was banned from running for five years and she is the leading candidate. That sounds like this country," US President Donald Trump said, comparing her conviction to the "lawfare" he says was waged against him before becoming president.
Conclusion
Marine Le Pen’s conviction and appeal have sent shockwaves through the French political scene, with many commentators calling it a political earthquake. The French appeals court’s decision to examine Le Pen’s case within a reasonable timeframe has raised hopes that she may be able to contest the 2027 presidential election. However, the situation remains uncertain, with many questions still unanswered.
FAQs
Q: What was Marine Le Pen convicted of?
A: Le Pen was convicted of a fake jobs scheme at the EU parliament.
Q: What was the most serious part of the conviction?
A: The five-year ban – effective immediately – on standing for office, which eliminates her from the race.
Q: What is the plan B if Le Pen loses her appeal?
A: The plan B is a candidacy by her protege and RN party leader Jordan Bardella.
Q: How did Le Pen react to the conviction?
A: Le Pen accused "the system" of rolling out "the nuclear bomb" to end her presidential hopes.
Q: What is the timeline for Le Pen’s appeal?
A: The new trial is expected to be held by early 2026, with the decision being handed down well before the 2027 presidential election.