France's top court to prioritize Marine Le Pen's appeal before presidential election

France's Court of Cassation aims to deliver a ruling on Marine Le Pen's appeal against her conviction for embezzling public funds before the first round of the presidential election. Rémy Heitz, the prosecutor general at the Court of Cassation, stated that the court is committed to meeting this objective.

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We are in working order and will do everything to meet this objective, because we are committed to it

Le Pen, a prominent figure in French politics, was handed a 15-month ineligibility sentence by an appellate court for her role in the alleged misuse of public funds during her time with the National Front party. She announced her intention to appeal to the Court of Cassation on July 7.

Heitz acknowledged that the case is still in its early stages, and the precise timeline remains uncertain. The court needs to assess the number of appeals filed, the arguments presented by the parties involved, and the overall complexity of the case. "Several scenarios remain possible," he noted, while reassuring that the magistrates are experienced in handling sensitive cases.

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She is convicted by the court of appeal, but because of this appeal, she is not definitively convicted and therefore remains presumed innocent

Heitz also emphasized that Le Pen is presumed innocent until a final verdict is reached, as the appeal suspends the execution of the appellate court's decision. He deferred questions regarding potential reforms to ineligibility rules to the legislature, affirming confidence in the current judicial system's functionality and the right to legal recourse in a democracy.

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it is still too early to comment on the precise deadlines