French court to rule on Le Pen's appeal on July 7

On July 7, the French Court of Appeal will decide the fate of Marine Le Pen, who is trying to overturn her conviction for embezzlement of EU funds.

The leader of the National Rally (RN) was banned from running for public office for five years last year after a court found her guilty of misusing more than €4 million in EU funds. According to the judges, money intended for work in the European Parliament was used to finance party staff.

Le Pen denies the allegations, and her lawyers argue that the European Parliament's rules are unclear and that there was no intent to commit a crime.

If the ban remains in place, she would not be able to run in the 2027 presidential election, in which she was considered the favorite. In that case, she would likely be replaced by party leader Jordan Bardella.

The final word may still be up to the Court of Cassation, which has promised to rule before the elections.

(reuters, pir)