Paris court sets January appeal date that could decide Le Pen’s political future

French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) President and member of European Parliament Marine Le Pen gestures during a press conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, on 13 June 2019. AFP - ARIS OIKONOMOU

A Paris court has set January 2026 for Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial over a corruption conviction, a decision that could make or break her hopes of running in the 2027 presidential election.

Marine Le Pen’s political future will hang in the balance early next year, after a Paris court confirmed that her appeal trial in the so-called “parliamentary assistants” affair will take place from 13 January to 12 February 2026.