Marine Le Pen files appeal to the Cour de cassation and reaffirms candidacy for 2027

Paris – 08.07.2026: Marine Le Pen announced on the evening of 7 July 2026 in TF1’s evening news that she would file a pourvoi en cassation against her conviction in the affair over allegedly fictitious assistants of the European Parliament. At the same time the leader of the Rassemblement national (RN) reaffirmed she will run in the 2027 presidential election. The Cour d’appel de Paris had previously found her guilty in the second instance. Le Pen said she had ‘clean hands’ and trusted the appellate courts to establish her innocence.

According to consistent media reports the judgment includes suspended prison sentences, fines and elements of an Inéligibilité. Details on the exact duration and on specific modalities differ by source. In principle a pourvoi en cassation has a suspensive effect with regard to finality until the Cour de cassation has decided. Legally, however, this does not mean a new factual examination: the highest court reviews the application of law and the conduct of the procedure, and if the appeal s쳮ds it can quash the decision and refer it to another chamber. Such a process can take months.

Politically, Le Pen’s announcement aims to consolidate leadership within the RN and to clarify the question of the top candidacy. She dismissed speculation about a possible substitute candidacy by Jordan Bardella and signaled she would launch a campaign quickly – subject to judicial deadlines and conditions. For the party, which has recently recorded high vote shares in European and national ballots, the personnel question is central to preparations for 2027.

It remains open whether and to what extent any enforcement measures could practically affect campaign management. Legal commentators point out that decisions about conditions and their implementation would, if applicable, be for the juge d’application des peines to decide. Should an Inéligibilité become final it could restrict eligibility to stand for election; as long as the cassation is pending the situation is legally in flux. Decisions of the Cour de cassation and scheduling by the competent courts will therefore be decisive in determining how Le Pen continues to organize and present her candidacy publicly.

The development is current: the TV appearance and the first reactions date from 7 July 2026, with corresponding reports broadcast by French channels and newspapers late in the evening and during the night. In the coming weeks further procedural steps are to be expected that will affect both formal eligibility to run and the practical shaping of a nationwide campaign up to 2027.