Marine Le Pen defiant after court ruling; running for French presidency again

French nationalist leader Marine Le Pen has declared her intention to run for the presidency in 2027, despite a recent appeals court decision that upheld her 2025 conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. The ruling, delivered on July 7, 2026, confirmed her guilt but significantly reduced her ban from holding public office. While originally facing a five-year disqualification, the court shortened this to 45 months, with 30 suspended, making her eligible for the upcoming election as the remaining 15 months have already been served.

However, the appeals court also mandated that Le Pen serve one year under house arrest with an electronic ankle tag as part of a three-year prison sentence, two years of which are suspended. Le Pen, who leads the National Rally party, has vociferously rejected the idea of campaigning under such restrictions, stating that a presidential candidate must have complete freedom of movement.

In a move of defiance, Le Pen announced she would appeal this latest verdict to France's highest court, the Court of Cassation. This further legal action is expected to temporarily suspend the electronic tag requirement, thereby allowing her to campaign unimpeded in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election.