France, Feb. 4 -- If the court upholds last year's bombshell ruling by a lower tribunal, Le Pen would be banned from running in France's 2027 presidential election, widely seen as her best chance at the top job.

The prosecution also sought a four-year prison term with three years suspended and a €100,000 fine for the figurehead leader of the National Rally (RN) party, which has been riding high in the opinion polls.

Le Pen had hoped her appeal against her ban over a fake jobs scam at the European parliament- an accusation the 57-year-old has denied- would clear the way for her to run in the election after Emmanuel Macron stands down.

But during closing arguments lasting nearly six hours, attorney general Stephane Madoz-Blanchet t...