Le Pen awaits court decision
This verdict could decide France’s presidency
Updated July 5, 2026 – 8:42 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
The verdict in the trial against Le Pen for fraud follows in France. It will decide on their candidacy in the 2027 presidential election. The first in Europe are already arming themselves.
Marine Le Pen57, was sure. “Until victory,” promised France’s leading right-wing politician at a party meeting at the weekend. Next to her stood Jordan Bardella, 30, the official leader of the right-wing party Rassemblement National (RN).
It is a crucial week for Le Pen, for Bardella and her movement. The verdict in the appeal against Marine Le Pen follows on Tuesday. It concerns the illegal use of EU funds for party purposes. And about Le Pen’s political future. In the first instance, the court denied her political civil rights. If the ruling stands, Le Pen will not be able to run in the presidential election next May. Then it would be Bardella’s turn.
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Le Pen had recently largely withdrawn. At the weekend, Bardella made it clear that he hoped that Le Pen “will be elected President of the Republic in a few months.” He reiterated his “unreserved support” for the RN frontwoman.
The left is divided in the election
The political situation is delicate France. And the election next spring will also decide Europe’s future. France’s President Emmanuel Macron may not run again after two terms in office.
The political landscape is traditionally highly fragmented. In France, parties are more a politician’s campaign machine than a permanent organization. Macron demonstrated this with his Renaissance movement when he was elected in 2017. He stormed into the presidency with a new party.
The enthusiasm for Macron and his reform movement has long since faded. The outgoing president and his party do not have their own majority in parliament.
A lot seems possible in next year’s election. Especially since France votes according to its very own principle. The new head of state will be determined in two rounds on April 18th and May 2nd. The two best placed candidates from the first round of voting move into round 2. This is what is being done in France at the moment.
So far, 45 candidates have announced their candidacy for the presidency. On left winger Jean-Luc Mélenchon from the movement La France Insoumise (LFI) – Indomitable France. His program can best be compared to: Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) in Germany. On the left in social policy, on the right with a view to migration. This is where Mélenchon scores. And in doing so he splits France’s left. Quite a few fear a second round between Mélenchon and the possible RN candidate.
