FRENCH far-right leader Marine Le Pen will learn tomorrow if her appeal against an embezzlement conviction is successful.

The Paris appeals court ruling could determine if Ms Le Pen is able to stand in next year’s presidential election.

She was convicted last year of misusing European Parliament funds by paying staff working for her National Rally (formerly National Front) party from money intended for parliamentary staff. The sentence included prison time (pending appeal) and a five-year ban on holding elected office.

If she is acquitted, she plans a presidential run. The court could also reduce the duration of a ban — leaving her technically able to stand — but she has indicated she would not do so if subject to campaigning restrictions or unable to declare until late in the process. A successful appeal could then be appealed by prosecutors at the Court of Cassation.

Ms Le Pen is the most recognisable figure on the French far right and was in the run-off against President Emmanuel Macron in the last two presidential elections. If she cannot stand, the National Rally candidate is likely to be Jordan Bardella.

In 2022, left-wing France Unbowed candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon missed a place in the run-off by just 1 per cent of the vote, while in the 2024 legislative elections a broad left alliance including his party, the Communists, Socialists and Greens — the New Popular Front — took first place.

Left unity has dissolved since, however, with the alliance no longer operating in the National Assembly and the Socialist Party and Communist Party planning to stand presidential candidates of their own next year.