Politics · France · 3 hrs ago
France’s top court to examine Marine Le Pen’s case on December 16
France’s Court of Cassation will examine Marine Le Pen’s constitutional challenges on December 16 in the case over European Parliament assistants.
Le Pen and other former National Rally officials are challenging their July appeal convictions for misusing European public funds.
Le Pen was sentenced to three years in prison, with part of the term suspended, fined €100,000 and barred from holding office for 15 months.
Her appeal to the Court of Cassation currently suspends enforcement of her prison sentence, allowing her to campaign for now.
If the court considers the constitutional questions serious or new, it can send them to France’s Constitutional Council, which would have up to three months to decide.
If the challenges are rejected, the court could rule on the case in late March or early April 2027, before the presidential election’s first round on April 18.
France’s Court of Cassation will examine Marine Le Pen’s constitutional challenges on December 16 in the European Parliament assistants case.
The court is expected to issue its decision before the first round of the 2027 presidential election, scheduled for April 18.
Thirteen appeals have been filed: twelve by people convicted in the case and one by the European Parliament, a civil party.
Le Pen was convicted on appeal in July of misusing European public funds and received a prison sentence and a fine.
The December hearing could affect the timing and course of the remaining appeal proceedings.
- Who
- Marine Le Pen and her co-defendants; the Court of Cassation will examine their constitutional challenges.
- What
- The court will examine constitutional questions filed in the European Parliament assistants case.
- When
- December 16, 2026.
- Where
- France. The court is the Court of Cassation.
- Why
- The challenges contest the constitutionality of laws used as the basis for the appeal ruling.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An appeals court convicted Le Pen in the European Parliament assistants case.
Le Pen filed an appeal to the Court of Cassation.
The deadline for the parties’ initial written submissions passed, and all parties filed briefs.
The Court of Cassation indicated that all parties had submitted their briefs.
The Court of Cassation is due to examine the constitutional questions.
The first round of the presidential election is scheduled.
- Hearing date
- December 16, 2026
- Appeals filed
- 13: 12 by convicted people and 1 by the European Parliament
- Election date
- April 18, 2027
- Appeals court conviction
- July 7, 2026
- Fine reported by Le Parisien
- €100,000
3 sources
Affaire des assistants parlementaires du RN : la Cour de cassation fixera le sort de Marine Le Pen le 16 décembre
Condamnation de Marine Le Pen : compte à rebours judiciaire enclenché pour sa participation à la présidentielle
Affaire des assistants parlementaires du FN : Marine Le Pen sera bien fixée sur son sort avant la présidentielle