Marine Le Pen plays last card for presidential candidacy as appeal starts

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen begins a crucial appeal in Paris on January 13 that will determine whether she can run in the 2027 presidential election, after being barred from public office over a conviction for misusing EU funds. The National Rally's number 2 Jordan Bardella said a court ruling against Le Pen “would be deeply worrying for democracy”, but Le Pen's protégé also stands to gain from that happening -- as he would run in her place.