Poll: 59% say Marine Le Pen should not run for French presidency in 2027
Appeals court ruling means she can stand for election
A majority of respondents believe Marine Le Pen should not stand in the 2027 presidential election, according to a new poll published the day after a court ruling allowed her to run.
59% of respondents believe Ms Le Pen is wrong to seek the presidency, while 40% support her decision, according to an Elabe poll for BFMTV published on July 8.*
She later announced she would stand for a fourth time, saying: "The French people will be the judges."
Appeal ruling has limited political impact
The poll suggests the appeal court ruling has not dramatically altered perceptions of the RN's electoral prospects.
Some 42% believe the combination of the court decision and Ms Le Pen's announcement will have no impact on the party's momentum ahead of 2027. 34% think it will weaken the RN, while 23% believe it will strengthen the party.
The survey also found broad support for one of Ms Le Pen's central arguments following the ruling. Nearly three-quarters (74%) agreed with her statement that "the French people will be the judges" and should have "the freedom to choose" their president.
However, respondents were far less persuaded by her claims of innocence. Seven in 10 (70%) said they did not believe she was innocent despite her repeated denials.
Opinion on the appeal court's decision itself was almost evenly divided. Thirty-seven percent said they were indifferent, 32% dissatisfied and 31% satisfied.
The findings come as Ms Le Pen prepares another appeal to the Cour de Cassation, France's highest court.
That appeal suspends the requirement for her to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while the case is considered, allowing her to campaign freely ahead of the first round of the presidential election in April 2027.
*Elab online poll for BFMTV of 1,000 people on July 8.
