France’s Marine Le Pen arrived in court on Tuesday for an appeal trial that will determine whether she can run in the 2027 presidential election, after being barred from public office over a conviction for misusing EU funds.
Le Pen and eight other former National Rally (RN) lawmakers were found guilty of misappropriating over 4 million euros ($4.67 million) of EU funds, while the party itself and a dozen parliamentary assistants were found guilty of receiving it.
Le Pen also initially received a four-year prison sentence — two years of which were suspended and two years to be served under home detention, and a 100,000 euro ($116,830) fine. Unlike the ban, those penalties did not take effect because she appealed.
The RN and 10 others found guilty of diverting European Parliament funds or receiving these funds have also appealed.
The hearing begins on Tuesday and is due to end on February 12.
