France court to hear Le Pen appeal against political ban in January

FILE PHOTO: Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) political party, and French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen talk to journalists as they leave after a meeting with the French Prime Minister at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -A Paris court ruled on Monday that French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's appeal trial against an embezzlement conviction that barred her from running in the 2027 election will start on January 13, keeping her presidential hopes alive.

The appeal trial is expected to last around five weeks and the verdict is due before the summer in a case that could have a huge impact on the election to succeed President Emmanuel Macron.