France's Bardella says 'ready to accept consequences' of Le Pen verdict

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella said he was "ready to accept the consequences" of a court ruling expected Tuesday that will determine whether he will be his party's candidate in France's 2027 presidential elections.

"We have anticipated every scenario," the National Rally (RN) party leader said Monday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

An appeals court will rule on whether to uphold a five-year ban from public office for Bardella's mentor, longtime party leader Marine Le Pen, in a case that has upended her presidential aspirations.

A lower court last year sentenced Le Pen, 57, to a five-year ban from public office and two years in prison over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament.

If the appeals court upholds last year's ruling, the three-time presidential candidate will be banned from vying to replace outgoing centrist President Emmanuel Macron in next year's election.

Le Pen has suggested that 30-year-old Bardella could stand instead if she has to step down.

Bardella said he would return to Paris on Monday and meet with Le Pen late on Tuesday.

Whatever the court decides, "I will continue to support her as I have always done," he said.

"We promised to fight together in this appeal case and to campaign together afterwards, whatever is decided in the coming hours."

The first trial found Le Pen -- along with 24 former European lawmakers, assistants and accountants -- guilty of operating a system from 2004 to 2016 to use European Parliament funds to employ RN staff in France.

The lower court also sentenced Le Pen to four years in jail, with two suspended.

Le Pen claimed her party was the victim of a "witch hunt".

During the appeal trial, she denied that the RN had any system to embezzle European Parliament funds, and has said her party acted in "complete good faith".

Opinion polls in recent months have largely suggested the far right will lead in the first round of next year's vote, but are divided on the outcome of the second round.

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© Agence France-Presse