Conseil d’État Rejects Marine Le Pen's Appeal Confirming Immediate Ineligibility

On October 15, the Conseil d’État firmly rejected Marine Le Pen's appeal against the immediate enforcement of her ineligibility ruling, a key development following her conviction related to the National Rally's European Parliament scandal.

Le Pen was convicted in March for "embezzlement of public funds" and "complicity in embezzlement of public funds." As a result, she was sentenced to four years in prison—two to be served under electronic bracelet—and fined 100,000 euros. Additionally, she received a five-year ineligibility penalty, which the Conseil d’État has now upheld for provisional execution, preventing her from running in upcoming legislative and presidential elections, including the critical 2027 presidential race.

Since April 18, Le Pen has been removed from electoral lists and lost her position as departmental councilor for Pas-de-Calais, though she remains a deputy for the region. She initially contested her removal and sought to have a priority question of constitutionality referred to the Constitutional Council, but these attempts failed.

Le Pen's appeal trial is scheduled from January 13 to February 12, 2026, when the merits of her case will be examined. Until then, the provisional ineligibility bars her from participating in the political contests she had planned to enter.

This latest rejection by the Conseil d’État marks a significant legal and political setback for the National Rally leader, confirming the immediate consequences of her conviction and complicating her political future.

The ruling also follows other political-legal developments, including the possible isolation of former President Nicolas Sarkozy in prison for safety reasons, signaling an intense period of judicial scrutiny for top French political figures.