Can Marine Le Pen Run for President in 2027?

A2

Can Marine Le Pen Run for President in 2027?

Marine Le Pen 在 2027 年能否參選總統?


Introduction

A court in Paris must decide if Marine Le Pen can run for president in 2027. She is in trouble because she used public money in the wrong way.

巴黎的一家法院必須決定 Marine Le Pen 能否在 2027 年參選總統。她目前陷入困境,是因為她以不當方式使用了公共資金。

Main Body

A court said Le Pen took money from the European Parliament. She used this money for her party and not for her job. The court said she cannot hold a public office for five years. If this stays true, she cannot be in the 2027 election.

法院表示 Le Pen 挪用了歐洲議會的資金。她將這筆錢用於她的政黨而非其工作。法院判定她五年內不得擔任公職。如果維持此項裁決,她將無法參加 2027 年的選舉。

Le Pen changed her party to make more people like it. She removed her father from the party in 2015. She also changed the party name to the National Rally. She wanted the party to look more normal.

Le Pen 改變了她的政黨以增加民眾的好感度。她在 2015 年將她的父親移出黨外。她還將黨名更改為「國民聯盟」。她希望該黨看起來更正統。

Many people now vote for her party. In 2024, the party won 143 seats in the government. Jordan Bardella is the leader now, but Le Pen is still very important to the party.

現在有許多人投票給她的政黨。在 2024 年,該黨在政府中贏得 143 個席位。Jordan Bardella 現在是領導人,但 Le Pen 對該黨依然非常重要。

Conclusion

Le Pen's future in politics depends on the court's final decision.

Le Pen 在政治上的未來取決於法院的最終決定。

Vocabulary Learning

The 'Action' Words (Past Tense)

In this story, we see how words change when something already happened. Look at these changes:

  • Use \rightarrow Used (She used public money)
  • Change \rightarrow Changed (She changed her party)
  • Remove \rightarrow Removed (She removed her father)

The Simple Rule: To talk about the past, we usually just add -ed to the end of the action word.


Words for People and Places

Notice how the text uses specific names for things:

The PersonThe Place/Thing
Marine Le PenThe Court
Jordan BardellaThe European Parliament
Her FatherThe Government

Tip: In English, we use "The" before official groups or buildings (e.g., The government, The court).

Vocabulary Learning

decide (v.)
To make a choice about something
Example:I cannot decide which dress to wear to the party.
public money (n.)
Money that belongs to the government and the people
Example:The city uses public money to build new parks.
hold a public office (v. phrase)
To have an official position in the government
Example:He wants to hold a public office to help his city.
election (n.)
The process of voting to choose a leader
Example:The presidential election is held every four years.
removed (v.)
To take someone or something away from a place or position
Example:The teacher removed the student from the classroom.
depends on (v. phrase)
To be decided by something else
Example:Our picnic depends on the weather tomorrow.
decision (n.)
A choice that you make after thinking
Example:It was a very difficult decision to move to a new city.
B2

Court to Decide if Marine Le Pen Can Run in the 2027 French Presidential Election

法院將決定瑪麗娜·勒潘能否參加 2027 年法國總統大選


Introduction

A Paris appeals court will soon decide if Marine Le Pen is still allowed to run in the 2027 presidential election after she was convicted of misusing public funds.

巴黎上訴法院將於近期決定,瑪麗娜·勒潘在被判定挪用公款後,是否仍獲 phép 參加 2027 年的總統大選。

Main Body

The legal case began after a March 2025 ruling by the Paris Criminal Court. The court found Le Pen and other National Rally (NR) officials guilty of using European Parliament funds for party work instead of official legislative duties between 2004 and 2016. As a result, she received a four-year prison sentence—including two years that cannot be avoided—a 100,000-euro fine, and a five-year ban on holding public office. Consequently, if the appeals court confirms this ban, Le Pen will be unable to run in 2027, which means Jordan Bardella, the current NR president, might have to be nominated instead.

這起法律案件始於 2025 年 3 月巴黎刑事法院的一項裁決。法院發現勒潘及其他國民聯盟 (NR) 官員在 2004 年至 2016 年間,將歐洲議會資金用於黨務而非官方立法職責,判定其有罪。結果,她被判處四年監禁(其中兩年為強制執行)、10 萬歐元罰金,以及五年禁止擔任公職。因此,若上訴法院維持此禁令,勒潘將無法參加 2027 年大選,這意味著現任 NR 主席喬丹·巴德拉可能必須被提名替代。

Over the years, Le Pen has worked hard to make far-right ideas more acceptable to the general public. After taking over the National Front (NF) from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, she started a policy to make the party seem less extreme. For example, she removed her father from the party in 2015 after he made controversial comments about the Holocaust and renamed the party the National Rally. Furthermore, she changed the party's goals by stopping the plan to leave the European Union (Frexit) and focusing instead on national identity.

多年來,勒潘致力於讓極右翼思想更容易被大眾接受。在從父親讓-馬麗·勒潘手中接管國民陣線 (NF) 後,她開始推行政策使該黨顯得不那麼激進。例如,她在 2015 年其父對大屠殺發表爭議言論後將其除名,並將黨名更名為國民聯盟。此外,她改變了黨的目標,停止了退出歐盟 (Frexit) 的計劃,轉而關注國家認同。

These changes have led to significant success in elections. Le Pen reached the final round of the presidential elections twice, and in 2022, she won 41.45% of the vote in the second round. Meanwhile, the NR has grown its presence in parliament, electing 89 MPs in 2022 and 143 in 2024. Because of this growth, the NR is now a powerful opposition force that can block government policies, although Le Pen remains the symbolic leader of the party even after handing formal leadership to Bardella in 2021.

這些改變使其在選舉中取得了顯著成功。勒潘兩次進入總統大選的最終輪,並在 2022 年第二輪投票中獲得 41.45% 的支持率。同時,NR 在議會中的影響力不斷擴大,2022 年選出 89 名議員,2024 年則選出 143 名。由於這種成長,NR 現在是一個強大的反對力量,能夠阻撓政府政策,儘管勒潘在 2021 年將正式領導權移交給巴德拉後,仍是該黨的象徵性領袖。

Conclusion

Ultimately, the future of Le Pen's political career depends on whether the appeals court decides she is eligible to hold public office.

最終,勒潘政治生涯的未來取決於上訴法院是否判定她具備擔任公職的資格。

Vocabulary Learning

🚀 The 'Logical Bridge': Moving Beyond 'And' and 'But'

At an A2 level, we usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To reach B2, you need Connectors of Result and Addition. These words act like professional glue, making your speech flow naturally rather than sounding like a list of short sentences.

🔗 The 'Result' Shift

Look at how the text explains the legal consequences. Instead of saying "She was banned, so she cannot run," it uses:

  • Consequently \rightarrow "Consequently, if the appeals court confirms this ban..."
  • As a result \rightarrow "As a result, she received a four-year prison sentence..."

The B2 Secret: Use Consequently when you want to sound formal or academic. It signals that the second fact is a direct, logical effect of the first.

➕ The 'Layering' Technique

When adding new information, A2 students rely on also. B2 students use Additive Adverbs to build an argument:

  • Furthermore \rightarrow "Furthermore, she changed the party's goals..."

Wait, why not just use 'also'? Furthermore tells the reader: "I have already given you one point, and now I am giving you an even more important one." It creates a hierarchy of information.

🛠️ Quick Comparison for your Vocabulary

A2 (Basic)B2 (Bridge)Context/Feel
SoConsequentlyFormal/Legal/Academic
AlsoFurthermoreAdding a strong second point
Because of thisAs a resultShowing a clear outcome

Pro Tip: Start your sentence with these words followed by a comma (e.g., Furthermore, ...). This instantly changes the rhythm of your English from 'student' to 'speaker'.

Vocabulary Learning

convicted (adj.)
Declared guilty of a criminal offense by a court of law.
Example:The businessman was convicted of fraud after a lengthy trial.
misusing (v.)
Using something in the wrong, illegal, or improper way.
Example:The manager was fired for misusing company funds for personal trips.
legislative (adj.)
Relating to the process of making laws.
Example:The legislative branch of government is responsible for drafting new bills.
consequently (adv.)
As a result of something that has happened.
Example:He failed to study for the exam; consequently, he did not pass the course.
nominated (v.)
Formally suggested as a candidate for an election or appointment.
Example:She was nominated for the position of chairperson by her colleagues.
controversial (adj.)
Causing a lot of disagreement or discussion among people.
Example:The government's new tax policy proved to be highly controversial.
significant (adj.)
Large or important enough to be noticed or have an effect.
Example:There has been a significant increase in the number of electric cars on the road.
eligible (adj.)
Having the right to do, receive, or hold something because of meeting certain conditions.
Example:Only citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in the election.
C2

Judicial Determination of Marine Le Pen's Eligibility for the 2027 French Presidential Election

法院將判定瑪琳·勒潘是否有資格參加2027年法國總統大選


Introduction

A Paris appeals court is scheduled to determine whether Marine Le Pen remains eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election following a conviction for the misappropriation of public funds.

巴黎一家上訴法院將判定,瑪琳·勒潘在被裁定挪用公款後,是否仍有資格參加2027年總統大選。

Main Body

The current legal proceedings originate from a March 2025 ruling by the Paris Criminal Court, which found Le Pen and several National Rally (NR) officials guilty of embezzling European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. The court determined that parliamentary assistants were utilized for party operations rather than legislative duties. This initial verdict imposed a four-year prison sentence—including two years without parole—a 100,000-euro fine, and a five-year prohibition on holding public office. Should the appeals court uphold this ban, Le Pen's candidacy for the 2027 election would be precluded, potentially necessitating the nomination of Jordan Bardella, the current NR president.

目前的法律程序源於巴黎刑事法院2025年3月的裁決,該法院裁定勒潘與數名國民聯盟(NR)官員在2004年至2016年期間挪用歐洲議會資金。法院認定,議會助理被用於黨務運作而非立法職務。初步判決處以四年監禁(包括兩年不得假釋)、10萬歐元罰金,以及五年禁止擔任公職。若上訴法院維持此禁令,勒潘將被排除在2027年大選的參選名單之外,屆時可能需要提名現任國民聯盟主席喬丹·巴德拉。

Historically, Le Pen's trajectory has been characterized by a strategic effort to facilitate the mainstreaming of far-right ideology. After succeeding her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, as leader of the National Front (NF), she implemented a policy of 'de-demonization' to broaden the party's electoral appeal. This process included the expulsion of her father in 2015 following his Holocaust-denial remarks and the subsequent rebranding of the NF as the National Rally. Furthermore, Le Pen transitioned the party's platform by abandoning the proposal for a 'Frexit' in favor of a focus on national identity.

從歷史來看,勒潘的發展軌跡以試圖促使極右翼意識形態主流化為特徵。在繼承其父讓-馬麗·勒潘接任國民陣線(NF)領導人後,她實施了「去妖魔化」政策,以擴大該黨的選舉吸引力。這一過程包括在2015年因其父發表否認大屠殺的言論而將其驅逐出黨,隨後將國民陣線更名為國民聯盟。此外,勒潘調整了該黨的政綱,放棄了「法國脫歐」的建議,轉而關注國家認同。

These institutional shifts have yielded significant electoral gains. Le Pen achieved successive presidential runoff appearances, with her 2022 performance securing 41.45% of the second-round vote. Concurrently, the NR has expanded its legislative footprint, electing 89 MPs in 2022 and 143 in 2024. This growth has positioned the NR as a primary opposition force capable of obstructing government policy via no-confidence motions, while Le Pen remains the party's symbolic figurehead despite transferring formal leadership to Bardella in 2021.

這些制度上的轉變帶來了顯著的選舉收益。勒潘接連進入總統大選第二輪投票,她在2022年的表現獲得了41.45%的第二輪得票率。與此同時,國民聯盟擴大了其立法版圖,在2022年選出89名國會議員,2024年則增至143名。這種成長使國民聯盟成為一個主要的反對力量,能夠透過不信任動議阻撓政府政策,而勒潘儘管在2021年將正式領導權移交給巴德拉,但仍是該黨的象徵性領袖。

Conclusion

The finality of Le Pen's political career depends upon the appeals court's decision regarding her eligibility to seek public office.

勒潘政治生涯的最終走向,取決於上訴法院關於其是否有資格擔任公職的決定。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of 'Clinical Distance': Nominalization and Passive Synthesis

To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing events and begin constructing frameworks. The provided text is a masterclass in Administrative Formalism, where the author systematically strips away emotional agency to create an aura of judicial objectivity.

⚡ The Pivot: From Action to Entity

At B2, a writer says: "The court decided that Le Pen stole money." At C2, the writer employs Nominalization—turning verbs into nouns to freeze a process into a concept.

  • Example: "Judicial Determination of Marine Le Pen's Eligibility"
    • Analysis: Instead of "The court is determining if she is eligible," the author creates a noun phrase. This transforms a temporal action into a static, legal state. It removes the "actor" and emphasizes the "process."

🔍 Lexical Precision: The 'High-Register' Substitutions

C2 mastery requires the ability to replace common verbs with Latinate, precise alternatives that signal institutional authority. Observe the strategic choices in the text:

B2/C1 StandardC2 InstitutionalEffect
Prevented fromPrecludedImplies a legal or logical impossibility rather than just a physical barrier.
UsedUtilizedSuggests a strategic application of resources for a specific end.
Change/ShiftTrajectoryShifts the focus from a single event to a long-term directional path.
StopObstructingSpecifically describes the act of creating an obstacle within a formal system.

🛠 Syntactic Compression: The 'Participial Heavy' Sentence

Notice the structure: "...with her 2022 performance securing 41.45% of the second-round vote."

Rather than using a relative clause ("which secured"), the author uses a participial phrase. This allows the writer to pack secondary evidence into a sentence without breaking the primary narrative flow. This is the hallmark of academic and legal English: the ability to provide data as a modifier rather than as a separate statement.

C2 Heuristic: Whenever you feel the urge to start a new sentence with "And this resulted in...", try converting the result into a comma-separated participial phrase (e.g., ", thereby necessitating..."). This creates the "seamless" density required for top-tier certification.

Vocabulary Learning

misappropriation (n.)
The intentional and illegal use of funds or property for a purpose other than that for which they were intended.
Example:The executive was charged with the misappropriation of corporate assets to fund his private lifestyle.
embezzling (v.)
The act of stealing money or other property that has been entrusted to one's care or stewardship.
Example:The accountant was caught embezzling thousands of dollars from the charity's endowment fund.
precluded (v.)
Prevented from happening or making something impossible.
Example:The new regulations precluded the company from expanding its operations into the neighboring region.
trajectory (n.)
The path followed by a projectile or an object; in a figurative sense, the development or progression of a person's career or life.
Example:Her professional trajectory shifted dramatically after she earned her doctorate in astrophysics.
mainstreaming (v.)
The process of bringing something into the conventional or dominant current of social, political, or cultural thought.
Example:The candidate's strategy focused on mainstreaming radical policies to make them palatable to the general electorate.
figurehead (n.)
A leader who has a title and appearance of power but possesses little to no actual authority.
Example:Although he remained the official CEO, he was merely a figurehead while the board of directors made all the decisions.
Practice All words in a crossword