Le Pen and Bardella rally in Liévin ahead of court ruling on her eligibility
Three days before a court decision that could bar her from the 2027 presidential race, Marine Le Pen and her designated successor Jordan Bardella appear together at a rally in Liévin.
A show of unity in Liévin
On Saturday, July 4, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella appeared side by side at a "fête champêtre" in Liévin, in the heart of Le Pen's electoral stronghold in Pas-de-Calais. The event, featuring speeches, photos, and selfies with activists, was their last joint public appearance before the Paris Court of Appeal rules on Le Pen's political future. The gathering came exactly 72 hours before the judges' decision, which will determine whether she can stand in the 2027 presidential election.
The looming court decision
The court will deliver its ruling on Tuesday, July 7, in the case of the European parliamentary assistants of the Front National (now Rassemblement National). In March 2025, Le Pen was convicted at first instance of misappropriation of public funds and sentenced to five years of ineligibility with immediate effect. The appeal judgment could confirm that penalty, impose a prison sentence with an electronic bracelet (which Le Pen says would make a candidacy "impossible"), or reduce the sanctions.
Two possible futures
If the court upholds the ineligibility, Bardella, the party president, is poised to replace Le Pen as the RN's candidate for the Élysée. Le Pen has already officially endorsed him as her successor. A party lieutenant told BFMTV: "After this weekend, nothing will be the same, we are entering the unknown. Either it's her and we all get into battle order, even if it means breaking a few dreams, or it's Jordan and then, we'll see." The decision will not only decide Le Pen's personal fate but also test whether the RN can survive without the figure who transformed it, as Le Figaro noted.
Campaign preparations underway
Regardless of the court's verdict, the RN has already begun building its campaign team for 2027, Le Monde reported. The party is expanding its staff and preparing for a presidential bid, with both Le Pen and Bardella involved in the early stages. This suggests the party is bracing for either scenario and aiming to maintain momentum.
Le Pen's defiance
Speaking on LCI on Wednesday, Le Pen struck a defiant tone.
I am not afraid.
Her appearance in Liévin, smiling under the sun, was meant to project confidence ahead of a ruling that could end her presidential ambitions.I have a bit of tough skin, so if someone wants to kill me, they'd better have a very sharp blade.
- Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella hold a joint rally in Liévin
- Paris Court of Appeal rules on Le Pen's ineligibility
