Le Pen and Bardella Show Unity Ahead of Court Verdict

05.07.2026 08:01 HotInfo

Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella met in Liévin in the Pas-de-Calais department on Saturday to show the unity of the National Rally party three days before the ruling of the Paris appeals court. The court is set to rule on Tuesday in the case concerning the assistants of European Parliament members of the former National Front, a decision that could affect Le Pen's ability to run in the 2027 presidential election. Le Figaro ↗

Le Pen was found guilty last year by a Paris court of misusing European Parliament funds. Her case is now before the appeals court. The ruling will carry not only legal but also political significance, since a ban on standing for office longer than two years could prevent her from making a fourth bid for the Élysée Palace. BBC News ↗

On Saturday, Le Pen declared that if she were unable to run, she would support Bardella. He is prepared to stand as the National Rally's substitute candidate, yet he also publicly reiterated his support for Le Pen and said he hopes to see her elected. The party is thus trying to present a united front ahead of the anticipated verdict and to show that it has a political course of action ready even in the event of an unfavorable ruling. France24 ↗

Tuesday's verdict may determine whether Le Pen remains the leading candidate of the French right for the presidential election, or whether Bardella comes to the fore. The decision will therefore be watched as one of the key moments ahead of the start of the campaign for the 2027 election. Spiegel.de ↗