Le Pen verdict could ignite France’s 2027 presidential race

France awaits a Paris appeal court ruling on Marine Le Pen’s €1.4m European Parliament embezzlement conviction. If the five‑year ban is upheld, she could be barred from office, likely triggering RN deputy leader Jordan Bardella as her Plan B; a lighter sentence or electronic‑tag option could allow her to campaign but would complicate her bid, while an acquittal remains unlikely. The decision could effectively set the timetable for the 2027 presidential race and Le Pen’s future in it.