Overview
- The appeals hearing began at the Palais de Justice in Paris, where Marine Le Pen arrived early and declined to speak to reporters.
- Le Pen was convicted in March 2025 over misuse of European Parliament funds and received four years in prison with two to serve, a €100,000 fine, and five years of ineligibility.
- The case centers on assistants paid by the European Parliament who worked for the party in Paris rather than in Strasbourg or Brussels.
- Her lawyers argue the key issue is whether the ineligibility should take effect immediately or await any final review by the Court of Cassation.
- RN alleges a double standard and ambiguity over assistants’ duties, and recent commentary has speculated her defense might acknowledge some wrongdoing to seek leniency; the decision will influence whether Le Pen runs or Jordan Bardella becomes the alternative.