Marine Le Pen begins appeal over EU funds conviction

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has begun a crucial appeal in Paris that will determine whether she can run in the 2027 presidential election, after being barred from public office over a conviction for misusing EU funds.

Le Pen, the long-time leader of the National Rally (RN), was seen as a likely frontrunner until she was found guilty last year of misappropriating more than 4 million euros ($4.7 million) of European Union funds. She was given a five-year ban from running for public office, effective immediately, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Le Pen appealed, as did the RN and 10 others found guilty of diverting European Parliament funds. The hearing will begin on January 13 and is scheduled to conclude on February 12. A ruling is expected before the summer, meaning her hopes of running in 2027 remain alive if her five-year ban is revoked or drastically curtailed.

If she cannot run, Le Pen has said her protege, 30-year-old RN party president Jordan Bardella, will do so in her stead.

US President Donald Trump and senior members of his team voiced support for Le Pen after her conviction, and any move to stop her from running would likely be seized on by them in their campaign to portray European courts and officials as seeking to unfairly block far-right politicians from power.

Judges said that between 2004 and 2016, Le Pen and others had used funds destined for work at the European Parliament to pay staff who were actually working for the party. Le Pen said the way she and her co-defendants used the money was legitimate.

Le Pen's legal issues appear to have benefited Bardella. A poll last autumn found Bardella would win the presidency, no matter who his opponent was in the second round. 

By Sabina Mammadli