Le Pen warned that barring her from the election could lead to widespread voter anger and a perception of manipulated electoral rules.

Le Pen and Bardella plan to enter a joint pre-campaign period until the ruling on her appeal is expected in the summer of 2026, indicating they will campaign together regardless of the appeal's outcome.

A ruling from a Paris appeals court regarding her conviction is anticipated in the summer of 2026, which could potentially allow her to run if the decision is overturned.

In April 2025, Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement linked to a fake jobs scandal, resulting in a five-year ban from holding office, which jeopardizes her presidential ambitions.

Due to her legal restrictions, Le Pen has asked her protégé Jordan Bardella to prepare for a presidential run in 2027.

Marine Le Pen, a prominent right-wing populist in France and leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, has been provisionally excluded from upcoming elections due to a court ruling related to misappropriation of EU funds.

Despite this preparation, Le Pen does not officially endorse Bardella as her successor, stating that any election held without her would be viewed as illegitimate by many French citizens.

Initially, Le Pen had hoped for an appeal decision before the elections and dismissed discussions about Bardella's candidacy, expressing determination to run in 2027 herself.

Recent public appearances have shown a united front between Le Pen and Bardella, signaling an effort to quell rumors of internal strife within the party as they prepare for the upcoming election.

Bardella, who has taken over leadership of the National Rally party, is seen as Le Pen's heir and has expressed readiness to run if she cannot.

Despite her ambitions, Le Pen has expressed some doubts about Bardella's potential success as a candidate, suggesting she may not fully trust his capabilities at this stage.

Le Pen referred to Bardella as a significant asset for their movement, indicating she hopes to delay his candidacy until absolutely necessary.