Appeals Court Cuts Le Pen's Electoral Ban, Clearing Her Path to 2027 Race

A Paris appeals court ruled July 7 that Marine Le Pen remains guilty of misusing public funds but reduced her ban on holding office to 45 months with 30 months suspended—an effective 15-month bar instead of the original five years. The change removes the immediate disqualification that had threatened to force her National Rally party to nominate successor Jordan Bardella for France's 2027 presidential election.