Marine Le Pen, the doyenne of the French far-right, has taken the stand in a Paris appeals court, fighting not just a legal battle but for her very political life. At stake is her eligibility to run in the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen, 57, is appealing a damning verdict that found her and her National Rally (RN) party guilty of an "organized system" of embezzling European Parliament funds. The lower court slapped her with a five-year ban from public office—a sentence that, if upheld, would decapitate her career just as the presidency seemed within reach.

"No System, Just Politics"

In a defiant testimony on Tuesday, Le Pen rejected the existence of any fraudulent scheme. "The word 'system' bothers me because it implies manipulation," she told the judges. She maintains that the assistants paid with EU funds were legitimately working for the party's political mission, a defense that prosecutors dismiss as a smokescreen for funding national operations with Brussels' cash.

The stakes could not be higher:

• The Verdict: Expected before summer, it will determine if she is barred from the 2027 race.
• The Successor: Waiting in the wings is Jordan Bardella, her 30-year-old protégé, whose popularity is surging even as Le Pen falters.

A Warning to Populists

The trial is being watched closely across Europe. It represents a collision between populist ambition and the rule of law. For Le Pen, who has spent decades detoxifying her party's image, a confirmation of the guilty verdict would be a humiliating end. She claims she is the victim of a "judicial witch-hunt," a narrative that resonates with her base but may not sway the appellate judges.

As the trial continues until February 12, the question is whether the French courts will do what the ballot box has failed to do: stop Marine Le Pen.