Le Pen announces fourth presidential bid despite fraud conviction
Le Pen announces 2027 presidential run while appealing fraud conviction.
Event / Politics
Marine Le Pen Legal Troubles
Marine Le Pen, leader of France's Rassemblement National, faces legal proceedings related to EU Parliament funding scandal with potential impact on her presidential ambitions.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 7 May, 21:07 UTC
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What happened
Marine Le Pen convicted on appeal for misuse of public funds in EU Parliament assistants case
Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National party, was convicted on appeal by the Paris Court of Appeal for misuse of public funds related to the employment of EU Parliament assistants. She was sentenced to one year of electronic monitoring.
Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan, also files cassation appeal
Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan and one of approximately a dozen people convicted in the EU Parliament assistants case, announced his intention to file a cassation appeal.
France's Court of Cassation aims to rule before 2027 presidential election
Rémy Heitz, prosecutor general at the Court of Cassation, stated that the court is prepared to render a decision on Marine Le Pen's cassation appeal before the first round of the 2027 presidential election on April 18, 2027, while noting that the procedure is also dependent on actions taken by the parties involved.
Marine Le Pen files cassation appeal against conviction
Marine Le Pen announced her intention to file a cassation appeal (appeal to France's highest court) against the conviction rendered by the Court of Appeal.
Marine Le Pen announces fourth presidential candidacy despite conviction
Marine Le Pen announced her fourth candidacy for the French presidential election, scheduled for April 18, 2027, despite her recent conviction on appeal.
Anti-Corruption association AC!! files complaint over RN media training
The anti-corruption association AC!! Anti-Corruption filed a complaint in December with the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) in Paris regarding media training sessions financed by European funds that allegedly served to prepare the RN's 2022 presidential campaign. The complaint followed reporting by the Canard enchaîné newspaper.
Jordan Bardella leads polling for 2027 French presidential election
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, is leading all opinion polls for the 2027 French presidential election according to statements made in May 2025.
Jordan Bardella files defamation complaint against AC!! Anti-Corruption
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, filed a defamation complaint against the anti-corruption association AC!! Anti-Corruption in late 2024, following the association's complaint regarding the media training investigation.
European Public Prosecutor opens investigation into media training funded with EU funds
The European Public Prosecutor's office opened an investigation into media training sessions that were allegedly funded with European Parliament funds. These training sessions were provided to several RN delegation members during the 2019-2024 parliamentary term, including Jordan Bardella, and allegedly served purposes related to the 2022 French presidential campaign.
Marine Le Pen characterizes investigation as political maneuver against Jordan Bardella
Marine Le Pen, deputy leader of the RN, stated that the European Public Prosecutor's investigation into media training was a deliberate maneuver to discredit the RN and specifically Jordan Bardella. She claimed her party was entirely innocent and offered full cooperation with the prosecutor.
Paris appellate court scheduled to rule on Marine Le Pen's eligibility for 2027 election
The Paris Court of Appeal is scheduled to deliver a judgment on July 7 at 1:30 PM regarding whether Marine Le Pen will be declared ineligible for the 2027 presidential election. This ruling concerns the parliamentary assistants case involving former FN/RN eurodéputés.
RN claims media training was conducted within European Parliament rules
The Rassemblement National party stated in a statement that the media training sessions were conducted in accordance with European Parliament rules, focused on European subjects, and involved multiple RN delegation eurodéputés during the 2019-2024 mandate. The party asserted that these trainings were discontinued specifically due to the start of the 2022 presidential campaign.
European Public Prosecutor opens investigation into suspected EU fund fraud by French National Rally
The European Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into suspected fraud involving EU funds following a complaint filed by the anti-corruption association AC!! Anti-Corruption. The investigation concerns allegations that the Rassemblement national (RN) improperly used European Parliament budgetary allocations designated for MEP office operations.
Jordan Bardella disputes allegations of campaign fund misuse
Jordan Bardella, current president of the Rassemblement national, contested the accusations through a party statement, denying wrongdoing and reserving the right to pursue legal action for defamation and false accusation against those making the claims.
Canard enchaîné reveals RN media training financing arrangement
The French investigative publication Canard enchaîné published an article in December 2025 revealing the alleged improper use of EU Parliament budgetary allocations by the Rassemblement national for media training activities connected to the 2022 French presidential campaign.
Media trainer allegedly redirected from European affairs to 2022 French campaign preparation
According to the complaint, a media trainer contracted to prepare RN European Parliament members on EU affairs was reassigned starting in September 2021 to assist Jordan Bardella, then RN interim president, specifically for the 2022 French presidential campaign rather than for European Parliament duties. The trainer was paid through the Parliament's MEP budget allocations.
AC!! Anti-Corruption files complaint alleging RN misused EU funds for media training
The anti-corruption association AC!! Anti-Corruption filed a complaint in December 2025 accusing the Rassemblement national of diverting EU funds designated for European Parliament operations to finance media training activities. The complaint alleged these funds were used to prepare RN members, including Jordan Bardella, for the 2022 French presidential campaign rather than for legitimate European Parliament purposes.
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2 alternative perspectives
Le Pen pursues highest court appeal as ruling decision looms before 2027
Le Pen pursues final appeal as Court of Cassation targets 2027 election deadline.
Le Pen frames EU fraud investigation as political attack on Bardella
Le Pen calls EU investigation into RN fund use a political attack on Bardella.
RN defends training program as Bardella challenges corruption allegations
RN denies wrongdoing in media training funding while Bardella pursues legal action against accusers.
EU opens fraud investigation into French National Rally fund use
EU prosecutors investigate whether National Rally diverted EU funds to French campaign activities.