The French nationally oriented leader has confirmed she will contest the next presidential election with her young party chief at her side, as a successful appeal dramatically shortened her ban from public office.
Marine Le Pen, head of the National Rally’s parliamentary faction, has revealed that she and party leader Jordan Bardella will begin preparing for France’s 2027 presidential election without delay.
Speaking on TF1 following a ruling by the Paris appeals court, Le Pen signalled unequivocally that she intends to run on a joint ticket with Bardella, as she has long promised.
“Jordan Bardella and I will launch this presidential campaign very soon,” the politician said, adding that she would appoint Bardella as prime minister in the event of victory. “You know, we both have convictions … We take our role seriously, and we both have character, too,” the leader added.
Le Pen had previously stated her intention to stand in next year’s presidential contest.
On Tuesday, the appeals court reduced the ban that had threatened to derail her political future. The original verdict had imposed a five-year period of ineligibility; that has now been cut to 45 months, with 30 of those months suspended. As a result, Le Pen will be free to fight for the French presidency in the upcoming election.
