A Paris court is due to deliver its verdict on Tuesday in far-right politician Marine Le Pen’s appeal against her conviction for embezzling EU funds, a ruling that could determine whether she runs in France’s presidential election next year.
The 57-year-old was convicted last year of misusing EU funds and sentenced to a prison term to be served under electronic monitoring, as well as a five-year ban on running for office.
The case centres on allegations that members of Le Pen’s party improperly used European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016 to pay parliamentary assistants who were in fact working, at least in part, for the then-National Front, now National Rally.
Le Pen denied any responsibility in court.
The key issue is whether the appeals court upholds the ban on running for office, with the next presidential election set to take place in two rounds on April 18 and May 2 next year.
Centrist President Emmanuel Macron cannot seek a third term under the French constitution, and opinion polls show the far right has a strong chance of reaching the run-off.
Following a court verdict scheduled for 1:30 pm (1130 GMT), Le Pen intends to announce on the evening news whether she will run as the National Rally’s presidential candidate. If she does not run, National Rally president, Jordan Bardella, is to stand in her place.