RN Appeal Trial: Marine Le Pen Sees an Opportunity in a Verdict Expected in 2026

The Paris Court of Appeal has confirmed receiving three appeals regarding the convictions of Marine Le Pen and the National Rally (RN). The case will be reviewed within a timeframe that should allow for a decision by the summer of 2026, a prospect that the RN leader considers “very good news.” For her, this timeline provides an opportunity to fully defend her position before the 2027 presidential election.

Sentenced in the first instance to five years of ineligibility and two years of imprisonment in the European parliamentary assistants case, Marine Le Pen intends to exhaust all possible appeals. She plans to refer the matter to the Constitutional Council through a Priority Question of Constitutionality (QPC) to challenge the immediate execution of her ineligibility. According to her, such a sanction infringes on “the freedom of voters,” an argument she hopes will be recognized by the highest jurisdiction in the country. At the same time, she is considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, denouncing an “irreparable prejudice” caused by this conviction.

Political Reactions and Tensions

The court ruling has divided the political landscape. Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, denounced a judgment that was “disproportionate and partisan,” accusing a “judicial tyranny” aimed at preventing his party from gaining power. He claims that “everything will be done to block our path” and is calling on RN voters to mobilize. On the other hand, François Bayrou has expressed “unconditional support” for the magistrates, emphasizing the importance of their independence and firmly condemning the criticism directed at the judiciary.

A support rally for Marine Le Pen is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, in Paris, presented as a “popular and peaceful” gathering. The event, to be held at Place Vauban, aims to demonstrate the solidarity of party members and activists against what they perceive as an unjust decision. Meanwhile, parliamentary debates are emerging over a possible reform of the immediate enforcement of ineligibility sentences, with some lawmakers advocating for stricter regulations to prevent potential abuses.

A Case with Multiple Ramifications

In addition to Marine Le Pen, twenty-three other individuals, including several key RN figures, have been found guilty in this case. Among them are former MEPs such as Louis Aliot, Nicolas Bay, and Bruno Gollnisch, accused of paying parliamentary assistants who, in reality, worked for the party rather than the European Parliament. Twelve former parliamentary assistants have also been convicted for receiving misappropriated public funds, further amplifying the scope of the case.

The National Rally itself has been fined two million euros, one million of which is non-suspended, along with the confiscation of one million euros seized during the investigation. These financial penalties add to the party’s ongoing struggles, already burdened by debts and the need for funding in upcoming election campaigns.

Faced with these legal and political challenges, Marine Le Pen remains determined to continue her legal battle, believing that the final verdict could be a decisive turning point ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Convinced she can overturn her conviction, she insists that “Plan A remains intact” and that no alternative candidacy is being considered for now. The question remains whether justice will rule in her favor before the crucial election.