Le Pen and Bardella Demonstrate Unity in Liévin – Three Days Before a Sensitive Appeal Ruling

Liévin – 05.07.2026: Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella demonstratively showed unity on Saturday evening in Liévin (Pas-de-Calais). At an open-air meeting organized by the party, both courted proximity to the grassroots and positioned the Rassemblement National (RN) as united, while a decision from the appeals body is expected in Paris on Tuesday. This could have immediate consequences for Le Pen’s role in the run-up to the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen told supporters she would support Jordan Bardella if she is legally prevented from running again. She said she wanted to defend him “with great energy, great conviction and great confidence,” several French media outlets reported in agreement. Bardella, in turn, reaffirmed his full support for Le Pen and expressed the hope of seeing her as president in a few months. The visible aim: to contain doubts about the leadership question and prepare the party for all eventualities.

The trigger is a procedure in which first-instance decisions foresee a temporary ineligibility for Le Pen. The Cour d’appel de Paris is now examining whether this sanction will be confirmed or softened. A confirmation for more than two years would have far-reaching consequences: Le Pen would not be allowed to run in 2027, and the RN would have to formally present a replacement candidate — likely Bardella. Within party circles the duo is seen as a central stabilizing factor, but also as a potential fault line between the personalized “Marinism” and a future model more tailored to Bardella.

The political calculation is clear: a united appearance is meant to maintain mobilization, bind regional associations and secure streams of donations while the legal situation remains unresolved. Strategically, the RN is trying to signal leadership strength without giving the impression of a predetermined decision. Observers point out that the party was held back by internal factional divides in earlier electoral cycles and therefore now wants to visibly contain conflicts.

The appeal decision is a legal question, but it touches on institutional and democratic processes: it clarifies to what extent sanctions may limit the eligibility of a prominent candidate — and how parties adapt their personnel planning. French media such as AFP, Le Parisien and TF1 documented the evening in Liévin promptly. Regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, the ruling will structure the RN’s next steps: either Le Pen enters the primary mode with a renewed mandate — or Bardella moves more strongly into the role of a designated lead candidate.