A Paris appeals court on Tuesday cleared the way for popular far-right leader Marine Le Pen to possibly run in the 2027 French presidential election but said she must wear an electronic bracelet, a condition she has previously called unacceptable.
Court Ruling and Sentencing Details
The verdict declared Le Pen guilty of embezzlement related to misuse of European Parliament funds but softened the ban on her holding elected office. The lower court had imposed a five-year ban, but the appeals court reduced it, making her eligible for the 2027 race if she accepts the electronic monitoring. Le Pen must now decide whether campaigning with a monitoring bracelet is feasible.
Le Pen, 57, is appealing a March 2025 conviction that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing EU funds by paying party staff with money intended for parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. The lower court sentenced her to prison time, suspended pending appeal, and imposed a five-year ban on holding office.
Political Implications for 2027
The ruling has the potential to reshape the 2027 contest to replace President Emmanuel Macron, who cannot seek a third consecutive term. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing and hopes to mount a fourth bid for the presidency. If she is barred, her protege Jordan Bardella, 30, would replace her as the National Rally candidate.
Prosecutors had asked the appeals court to sentence Le Pen to four years in prison, including three suspended, plus a five-year ban on holding office. They accused her of leading a “system” to “siphon off” EU public funds for her party’s benefit. The appeals court, however, opted for a reduced ban and electronic monitoring.
Le Pen's Stance and Next Steps
Le Pen has said that if the court imposes constraints that make campaigning difficult, she might decide not to run. “If I’m allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn’t be possible,” she said in an interview last week. She could still appeal to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, which has said it would seek to rule before the 2027 election.
