Marine Le Pen found guilty, but court clears way for presidential run if she wears tag

A French appeals court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzling European Union funds, a case that dates back to her time as a Member of the European Parliament. The court's decision, however, significantly reduced her initial five-year ban from holding public office, effectively clearing the path for her to potentially contest the 2027 French presidential election.

Despite this eligibility, the court also handed down a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, requiring Le Pen to serve one year under electronic monitoring, commonly known as an ankle tag. This condition poses a considerable challenge for her presidential ambitions, as she has previously indicated that campaigning while under such restrictions would be politically and logistically difficult.

The ruling now places the decision firmly in Le Pen's hands regarding whether she will proceed with a fourth presidential bid under these new judicial constraints. The court also imposed a €100,000 fine for the misuse of public funds.