(Victor Goury-Laffont and Sarah Paillou – Politico) As the French presidential election campaign kicks into gear unusually early ahead of the 2027 ballot, the far-right National Rally will be stuck on the sidelines until summer waiting to find out whether their candidate will be Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella. Clarity on timing emerged Wednesday when a court announced it would deliver a verdict on July 7 in Le Pen’s ongoing appeal of a five-year election ban that knocked her out of the race. The situation is becoming increasingly awkward, as Le Pen has spent the past month confined to the courtroom while her protégé Bardella, the party’s “Plan B” candidate, tackles the interviews, meetings and public appearances expected of a frontline contender.
Le Pen stuck on French election sidelines until July 7 – POLITICO
