French court to rule on July 7th in Marine Le Pen appeal trial

"A Paris appeals court said on Wednesday it will rule on July 7th in a fraud case against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, in what is expected to be a pivotal moment for French politics. A lower court last year handed the 57-year-old veteran politician a five-year ban from public office over a fake jobs scam at the European parliament, dashing her presidential ambitions. If the appeals court upholds last year's bombshell ruling, the three-time presidential candidate would be banned from running in 2027,"

"Le Pen has said she will decide whether to run for president after the ruling in the appeal trial, and has indicated that her lieutenant - 30-year-old Jordan Bardella, who heads her Rassemblement National party - could be the selected candidate instead. A poll in November predicted that, should he run, Bardella would win the second round of the 2027"

A Paris appeals court will deliver a July 7th ruling in a fraud case involving Marine Le Pen that could determine her eligibility for public office. A lower court previously imposed a five-year ban over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament and issued a prison sentence. If the ban is upheld, Le Pen would be barred from running in the 2027 election. Le Pen says she will decide on her candidacy after the appeal decision and has suggested Jordan Bardella could be chosen instead. Prosecutors seek to maintain the ban and impose further prison terms.

Read at www.thelocal.fr