Le Pen's 2027 Run Hinges on Tuesday Court Ruling

PARIS (AP) — A French court will decide Tuesday if Marine Le Pen can run for president in 2027. The ruling on her appeal of an embezzlement conviction could end her political ambitions. Le Pen, 57, is a leading candidate. A lower court found her and her National Rally party guilty in March 2025 of misusing European Parliament funds. Between 2004 and 2016, they paid party staff with money meant for EU assistants. The court sentenced her to prison, suspended pending appeal. It also banned her from holding elected office for five years. Le Pen denies any wrongdoing. The appeals court has several options. **Best case for Le Pen: acquittal** The court could clear her of all charges. Le Pen admitted to a "mistake" during the trial. She said some employees paid as EU aides worked for her party, but she believed that was allowed. She also blamed EU officials for not warning her party. If acquitted, prosecutors could still appeal to France's highest court. **Short ban: a possible path** The court could find her guilty but reduce the ban to two years or less. Since the lower court's ban took effect immediately, a short ban would end before the first round of voting in April 2027. But Le Pen says a prison sentence, even with electronic monitoring, would stop her campaign. "If I’m allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn’t be possible," she said. **Heavy sentence: the worst outcome** Prosecutors want four years in prison, with three suspended, and a five-year ban. They say Le Pen led a system to "siphon off" EU funds. The court could also order the ban to take effect immediately. Le Pen could appeal, but the high court has said it would rule before the 2027 election. **Time is running out** Le Pen says she cannot launch a campaign at the last minute. Candidates need 500 endorsements from elected officials. Replacing a nominee late in the race is very difficult. "If I’m prevented from running but the Court of Cassation rules in my favor three or four months later, it will be too late," she said. If Le Pen is barred, her protégé Jordan Bardella, 30, could become the party's candidate. This would reshape the race to replace President Emmanuel Macron.