Marine Le Pen Faces Potential Ineligibility Ahead of 2027 Presidential Race as FN Assistant Case Advances

The appeal trial concerning Marine Le Pen’s involvement in the Front National (FN) parliamentary assistants affair has heightened uncertainty about her 2027 presidential election prospects. On February 3, 2026, public prosecutors in Paris demanded a four-year prison sentence for Le Pen, with one year firm and adaptable via electronic monitoring, a fine of €100,000, and notably, five years of ineligibility. This penalty is less severe than the initial trial’s ruling but still jeopardizes her ability to stand in next year’s presidential vote.

Le Pen has publicly indicated that if the judges follow these prosecutorial requisitions, she will not wait for the Court of Cassation’s decision—which could come late in 2026 or early 2027—and will consider herself "blocked" from running. She aims to decide on her candidacy shortly after the appellate court’s verdict, expected before summer 2026, to avoid disrupting the campaign timeline, especially to not undermine Jordan Bardella’s potential candidacy should she choose to step aside.

The prosecutors characterized the FN’s parliamentary assistants scheme as a "systemic, durable, and directed" fraud orchestrated by the party leadership, underscoring the gravity of the charges. While the court is not obliged to follow the prosecution's recommendations precisely, Le Pen faces a likely conviction with significant penalties. This development marks a pivotal moment in her political career and the unfolding dynamics of the 2027 presidential election race in France.