If the opposition member files a cassation appeal, the case will be reviewed "before the presidential elections."
Earlier, the prosecution requested 4 years of imprisonment for Le Pen (of which 3 years are conditional and 1 year under house arrest with an electronic bracelet), as well as a fine of 100,000 euros and, most importantly, a ban on election for 5 years. However, unlike the prosecutors in the first instance, their colleagues in the appeal requested not to apply the "immediate enforcement" of this ban.
Nevertheless, if the court does not cancel it altogether, or at least reduce it to 2 years, it will mean that Le Pen will not be able to participate in the 2027 presidential elections. She has already indicated in an interview at the end of last year that in the event of an unfavorable verdict from the Court of Appeal, she would withdraw her candidacy without waiting for the verdict in the next and final instance — the Court of Cassation.
This is despite the fact that last week Rémi Aït, the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, stated on BFMTV that if Le Pen files a cassation appeal, the case will be reviewed "before the presidential elections." He also assured that the case is not "political."
Earlier, the first president of the Court of Cassation, Christophe Soulard, stated that his instance would "try, as much as possible, to consider the case quickly." According to the publication Mediapart, the highest judicial instance could issue a ruling in January 2027 — a few months before the first round of the presidential elections, which is scheduled for April.
However, Marine Le Pen considers such a schedule too tight for a calm campaign.
"Madame Le Pen said she would make her decision (on participating in the elections) based on your decision, and I confirm this," said one of the politician's lawyers, Maître Bossely, to the court. Noting that he does not want to "influence the verdict" in this way, he nevertheless emphasized: "Your decision will be final for her."
