Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally party, has confirmed her intention to run for president in the 2027 election following a court decision that upheld her embezzlement conviction but lifted a ban on her seeking public office. The ruling came from the Paris Appeal Court on July 7, 2026, maintaining her guilt while allowing her candidacy under legal conditions that include wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Le Pen, 57, who has been a prominent figure in French politics for over a decade, was originally convicted in 2025 for embezzling approximately €3.2 million (about $3.2 million) from the European Parliament. The case involves allegations that funds meant to cover salaries for party aides were redirected to other National Rally activities. She denies personal enrichment and maintains the charges are politically motivated.
Her initial conviction carried a four-year prison sentence, a €100,000 fine, and a five-year ban from holding political office. On appeal, the court reduced her prison term to three years—two suspended—and shortened the electoral ban to 45 months, with 30 months suspended, effectively allowing her to run again. The suspended portions mean she is effectively subject to one year under house arrest with an electronic tag, though the exact restrictions remain to be clarified.
Le Pen announced on French television channel TF1 that she intended to campaign despite the requirement to wear the electronic bracelet. However, she said she would appeal to France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, seeking to suspend the monitoring condition during her campaign, which she said impedes her ability to freely campaign. She emphasized her commitment to legally challenging the ruling while maintaining her innocence.
The court’s decision marks a significant shift after last year’s conviction left her presidential prospects uncertain. Had the ban stood, her protégé Jordan Bardella, 30, a rising figure within the National Rally and a member of the European Parliament, was poised to become the party’s candidate. Bardella is regarded as more moderate and business-friendly than Le Pen and has cultivated relationships with other European right-wing leaders.
Le Pen, who has finished second in previous presidential elections, including the 2022 race where she won over 41 percent of the vote against incumbent Emmanuel Macron, remains a leading contender. She has sought to reposition the National Rally away from its historically extremist and xenophobic roots under her father and predecessor, Jean-Marie Le Pen, emphasizing economic nationalism and protection of the French welfare state, while maintaining strong anti-immigration and Eurosceptic positions.
Her confirmation as a candidate suggests the far-right remains a significant force in French politics. Le Pen has framed her campaign as a partnership with Bardella, promoting the duo as a potential presidential and prime ministerial ticket, signaling a strategic effort to broaden the party’s appeal ahead of next year’s vote. The ongoing legal proceedings, however, add an element of uncertainty to her campaign as France approaches the presidential election.