RN establishes a unified programme for the 2027 presidential election

Paris – 15 July 2026: The National Rally (RN) has begun a three-day series of internal working meetings aimed at defining its programme for the 2027 presidential election. According to information from Franceinfo, the focus is on aligning key political positions and presenting a consistent line externally. The party leadership wants to avoid contradictory statements from different factions.

The discussions are taking place during a particularly sensitive period for the party. On 7 July 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal sentenced Marine Le Pen to prison, imposed a fine and barred her from standing for office for a specified period in a case involving the alleged misuse of funds intended for assistants to Members of the European Parliament. Based on the current situation, this decision still allows her to run for president.

Following the ruling, Marine Le Pen stated that she wanted to run for the highest office in the state and would appeal to the Court of Cassation. She therefore remains the RN’s expected candidate. At the same time, Jordan Bardella, the RN president, remains a central figure in strategic preparations. In recent weeks, both have repeatedly stressed their political unity.

According to information on the internal preparations, the meetings are not only about individual election promises. The party also wants to clarify how to bring together positions on the economy, society and security, as well as how to explain them during the election campaign. This coordination is important for the RN because, in the event of a presidential victory, the party would also seek a workable parliamentary majority.

However, Marine Le Pen’s legal situation remains a decisive factor. The appeal ruling concerns the case involving parliamentary assistants of the former Front National, now called Rassemblement National. In its decision, the court found several defendants criminally responsible. Le Pen’s further legal proceedings before the Court of Cassation therefore also carry major political significance.

At the same time, the RN is trying to separate its programme development from the candidate’s personal legal situation. Party representatives stressed even before the ruling that political preparations would continue regardless of who officially represents the party in 2027. The current meetings are intended to accelerate these preparations and strengthen the campaign organisation in the coming months.

The first round of the next French presidential election is expected to take place on 18 April 2027. According to its statements, the RN will continue refining its political proposal until then. It remains unclear whether the discussions that have just begun will lead to specific new measures. The decisive question will be whether the party can defend its programme decisions consistently in public.