France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen awaits court verdict - BBC News

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is appealing against a verdict which found her guilty of misusing EU funds.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Last year a Paris court found Marine Le Pen guilty of misusing European parliamentary funds, a case now before the court of appeal

France is in a state of nervous excitement as it awaits Tuesday's court verdict that will determine whether nationalist frontrunner Marine Le Pen can stand in next year's presidential election.

Rarely in a judicial decision in France have the political stakes been higher.

Latest opinion polls suggest that the 57-year-old leader of the National Rally (RN) is well-positioned to become France's next head of state.

But if the appeal court in Paris follows last year's initial verdict in her trial for misuse of European parliamentary funds, then Le Pen will be declared ineligible for public office and her political hopes will be in ruins.