Prosecutors File Appeal Request Targeting Le Pen On 3 February 2026 the Paris public prosecutor submitted an appeal requisition asking the Court of Appeal to impose a four‑year prison term (including one year custodial), a €100,000 fine and a five‑year ban from elected office against Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN [1][2]. The request follows the earlier March 31 2025 criminal‑court ruling but asks for a slightly milder penalty than that judgment [2]. No provisional execution was requested, meaning Le Pen will not be taken into custody immediately [1][2].

Charges Center on Systemic Misuse of EU Assistant Funds Prosecutors allege that the RN orchestrated a durable scheme diverting €1.4 million of European Parliament assistant salaries, describing it as a “systemic, durable organization” directed by the party’s leadership and implicating Le Pen as the instigator after her father’s tenure [1][2]. The scandal, known as the “affaire des assistants parlementaires européens du Front national,” has been investigated as a coordinated diversion of public money rather than isolated incidents [1]. The appeal seeks to hold the party head accountable for the organized misappropriation [1][2].

Potential Sentence Could Bar Le Pen From 2027 Election If the appellate court adopts the prosecutor’s request, the five‑year ineligibility would prevent Le Pen from standing in the April 2027 presidential first round unless she successfully appeals to the Court of Cassation and overturns the ban [1][2]. The prospect of a ban has already cast doubt on her ability to run a fourth time, a concern highlighted after the first‑instance trial [1]. The decision therefore carries significant political ramifications for the RN’s electoral strategy [1][2].

Court’s Decision Timeline and Possible Divergence From Prosecutor Demands The Paris Court of Appeal is required to issue its judgment before the summer of 2026, a deadline that will determine Le Pen’s candidacy eligibility [1][2]. While the court must consider the prosecutor’s requisition, it is not bound by it and may impose a different sentence, including a reduced or absent ineligibility period [2]. Any custodial portion of the sentence could be served under electronic monitoring, as the advocates declined to seek immediate imprisonment [2].

2025 Verdict Provides Context for Current Appeal Request The March 31 2025 Paris tribunal had called for two years of custodial imprisonment and harsher penalties, making the current appeal request appear milder in comparison [2]. That earlier judgment had already labeled the misuse of EU assistants as a criminal offense, establishing a legal precedent for the present proceedings [1]. The contrast underscores the prosecution’s strategic adjustment while maintaining the core allegations of systematic fund diversion [1][2].