French court to rule in trial of far-right leader Le Pen; verdict could scupper her chances of running in next election

A French court will rule in the trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen over an alleged fake jobs scam at the EU parliament, a verdict which could ruin her chances of standing in the next presidential elections in two years.

Three-time presidential candidate Le Pen, who scents her best-ever chance to win the French presidency in 2027, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

But prosecutors in the case, which also targets other top National Rally (RN) officials, have asked the court to issue Le Pen with both a jail sentence and a ban from holding public office.

The latter should come into force immediately even if she appeals, according to the demand made by prosecutors last year, essentially disqualifying her from the presidential polls in two years if the court follows the request.

With her RN emerging as the single largest party in parliament after the 2024 legislative elections, Le Pen believes she has the momentum to finally take the Elysee in 2027 on the back of public concern over immigration and the cost of living.

Polls currently predict she would easily top the first round of voting and make the run-off.

If successful in 2027, she could join a growing number of hard- and far-right leaders around the world ranging from Giorgia Meloni in Italy to Hungary’s Viktor Orban.

Should she be condemned, waiting in the wings is her protege and RN party leader Jordan Bardella, 29, who is not under investigation in the case.

Bardella last week became the first RN party leader to visit Israel, invited by the government to address a conference on the fight against antisemitism in a confab boycotted by Jewish leaders and denounced by opponents as hypocrisy.