Le Pen to run in 2027 presidential election and files appeal against conviction

Content of the Verdict

Le Pen is counting on the Cour de cassation, France's highest court, not reaching its decision until after the second round of the presidential election, according to her own statements. Should she be elected president before the ruling of the cassation court, she would, according to Le Pen's assessment, enjoy immunity. She also assumes that she will have already served the remaining 15 months of the ban from holding public office by the 2027 election date and could therefore fundamentally run.

The strategy of the appeal is considered legally extremely risky. Le Pen had previously announced that she did not want to campaign wearing an ankle monitor. She now declared that, due to the appeal option now existing, «werde ich ohne Fussfessel Wahlkampf machen». She expects not to have to wear the ankle monitor during the campaign.

Programmatic Orientation of the RN

At the center of the party's political agenda remains the so-called national preference. French citizens are to be given preferential treatment in social benefits, social housing, and the labor market. Le Pen has also confirmed that party leader Jordan Bardella is to become prime minister if she wins the election. The 30-year-old is particularly popular among younger voters. In party circles, he continues to be seen as a possible prime minister.

Le Pen has been cultivating a citizen-oriented «caring» image for more than twenty years. Party leader Jordan Bardella is described as her «political protégé». This is her fourth attempt to reach the Élysée Palace. In the 2012 election, she finished third; in 2017 and 2022, she advanced to the runoff against Emmanuel Macron.

Historical Context and Election Results

The Rassemblement National party is the successor party to the right-wing extremist Front National. The latter was founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen, who in the 1980s became known as the «Diable de la République» – Devil of the Republic – through antisemitic agitation. Marine Le Pen is the daughter of the party founder, who is described in the text as the «party patriarch». In recent years, the party has distanced itself from the racist and antisemitic slogans of its founder Jean-Marie Le Pen.

In the municipal elections in March, the RN was able to make significant gains. After the municipal elections in March, the right-wing populist Front National now has 60 mayors in the country instead of the previous roughly dozen. After the first round of the municipal elections in France, the right-nationalist Rassemblement National performed better than in the last election. The right-wing candidates led in 58 municipalities.

In polls, Le Pen and Bardella have been ahead of all other potential candidates from other parties by a clear margin of more than 30 percent for months. The RN is considered to have good chances of advancing again to the decisive runoff in the presidential election in spring 2027. Marine Le Pen rejects the accusations made against her and is intensifying her power struggle with the judiciary.

Reporting by ZDF correspondent Anne Arend. The present text dates from 07.07.2026 and includes an analysis by commentator Julia Borutta.