Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a deputy for the Rassemblement National (RN), said the potential five-year ineligibility of party leader Marine Le Pen is not a surprise.
The ruling could fundamentally alter the landscape of the 2027 presidential election by removing one of its primary contenders from the ballot. Because the case involves the alleged misappropriation of public funds, the legal outcome carries direct political consequences for the RN's leadership structure.
Tanguy said during an interview on France Inter on June 7, discussing the ongoing legal battle regarding the use of fictitious parliamentary assistants [1]. The Cour d’appel de Paris is scheduled to deliver its judgment on July 7, 2026 [2].
Le Pen was previously found guilty of misappropriating public funds through the employment of fictitious assistants [3]. This conviction carries a potential penalty of ineligibility for five years [1]. Some reports indicate this penalty includes provisional execution, which would render her immediately ineligible to hold office [3].
"I do not think there is any surprise in the decision-making regarding the ineligibility of Marine Le Pen," Tanguy said [4].
Despite the looming judgment, some analysts suggest Le Pen may still find a path to candidacy for the 2027 election [5]. However, the five-year ban remains the primary legal hurdle facing the party's most prominent figure, a development that would force the RN to identify a new candidate on short notice.
The case centers on the use of European Parliament funds to pay staff who were allegedly working for the national party rather than on parliamentary duties [3]. The upcoming July ruling will determine if the previous conviction and the associated ban on holding public office will be upheld.
“"I do not think there is any surprise in the decision-making regarding the ineligibility of Marine Le Pen."”
The upcoming ruling creates a critical pivot point for the French right. If the five-year ineligibility is upheld, the Rassemblement National must pivot its 2027 strategy away from Le Pen, potentially leading to an internal power struggle or the elevation of a new figurehead to maintain the party's momentum.
