Le Pen Urges Bardella to Prepare for 2027 Presidential Run

Far-right populist Marine Le Pen, facing a five-year ban from running in elections, has urged her protégé Jordan Bardella to prepare for the 2027 presidential elections in France.

"I accept that I cannot be a candidate. Jordan accepts that he must intervene," Marine Le Pen told Valeurs Actuelles newspaper.

A court found Ms. Le Pen guilty in early April of misusing EU funds, depriving her of the right to be elected for five years.

Le Pen left open the possibility of both participating in the internal party process, pending the appeal decision in 2026.