Marine Le Pen declared on Tuesday evening that she will run for the French presidency in 2027 despite her conviction for embezzling €2.9 million in European Parliament funds, a decision that clears the legal path for her candidacy while leaving her judicial future unresolved. Speaking on TF1, the 57-year-old leader of the far-right Rassemblement National said, “Tonight I am a presidential candidate. I will not change my mind,” adding that she would appeal to France’s highest court to overturn the ruling. “I am happy that the court has returned the freedom of choice to the French,” she said, referring to the appeals court’s decision to reduce her five-year ban on holding public office to 15 months, which expired in March 2025.

The Paris Court of Appeal on Tuesday upheld Le Pen’s conviction for misusing EU funds between 2004 and 2016 to pay staff working for her party, but reduced her sentence to three years in prison, with two years suspended and one year under electronic monitoring. The court also imposed a €100,000 fine and shortened her ineligibility period from five years to 45 months, of which 30 months are suspended. This means Le Pen is now eligible to stand in the presidential election scheduled for April 18 and May 2, 2027.

Le Pen had previously stated she would not campaign while wearing an electronic tag, but on Tuesday she insisted that her appeal to the Cour de Cassation would suspend the enforcement of any penalties, allowing her to run without the bracelet. “There is no longer any scenario in which I cannot be a candidate,” she told TF1. “The French will have the final word.”

Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of the RN and Le Pen’s designated prime minister should she win, reaffirmed his full support. “Of course, I will stand 100 percent by her side,” Bardella told reporters. Le Pen and Bardella are expected to launch their campaign imminently, with a dedicated platform, Marinelepen.com, already live.

Legal experts caution that the Cour de Cassation’s eventual ruling could still reactivate the original sentence, potentially forcing Le Pen to serve her one-year prison term under electronic monitoring during the campaign. The appeals court’s decision to suspend the ineligibility period does not guarantee immunity from future penalties. “The suspension of the sentence is not automatic,” noted French constitutional law professor Dominique Rousseau. “The Cour de Cassation could decide to maintain the enforcement of the original conviction, which would revive the ineligibility.”

The timing of the Cour de Cassation’s ruling remains uncertain, with some analysts suggesting it could come as late as early 2027, potentially just months before the first round of voting. Until then, Le Pen’s campaign will proceed amid ongoing legal uncertainty, with the far-right leader framing her candidacy as a defense of democratic choice. “The French will decide,” she said. “They will have the last word.”

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23 sources11 countries

Geographic Origin20 located

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Articles

Berufungsurteil in Frankreich: Marine Le Pen darf zur Wahl antreten – und will es auch Die Rechtspopulistin kann sich 2027 im französischen Präsidentschaftswahlkampf aufstellen lassen. Das Gericht erklärte sie aber der Unterschlagung für schuldig. mehr...

taz.de · about 11 hours ago

Marine Le Pen annonce maintenir sa candidature à lélection présidentielle 2027 Condamnée en appel mardi 7 juillet pour détournements de fonds dans laffaire des assistants parlementaires du FN, la cheffe de file du Rassemblement national a annoncé se pourvoir en cassation et assuré quelle serait candidate au scrutin présidentiel des 18 avril et 2 mai 2027.

courrier international · about 11 hours ago

Marine Le Pen, Julien Odoul, Bruno Gollnisch… La liste des condamnations après le procès en appel des assistants parlementaires du FN La cour dappel de Paris a confirmé ce mardi les condamnations des douze prévenus qui avaient fait appel, dont Marine Le Pen. La cheffe de file RN a toutefois écopé dune peine inférieure à ce qui avait été décidé en première instance.

liberation · about 11 hours ago

Après sa condamnation en appel, Marine Le Pen reste candidate et se pourvoit en cassation Condamnée ce mardi 7 juillet à un an de prison ferme mais libérée de sa peine dinéligibilité, la responsable dextrême droite a décidé de se pourvoir en cassation.

liberation · about 11 hours ago

Marine Le Pen: Wystartuję w przyszłorocznych wyborach prezydenckich Swoją decyzję dwukrotna kandydatka na prezydenta Francji ogłosiła podczas rozmowy na antenie telewizji TF1 we wtorek wieczorem.

gazeta.pl · about 11 hours ago

Nach Berufungsurteil: Le Pen tritt trotz Verurteilung bei der Präsidentenwahl an Das Berufungsgericht in Paris hat im Verfahren gegen Marine Le Pen ein Urteil gesprochen. Nun hat die Rechtspopulistin entschieden, was das für ihre politische Zukunft bedeutet.

faz · about 11 hours ago

Watch: Marine Le Pen confirms run for French presidency The National Rally leader also said she will attempt to appeal an embezzlement conviction.

bbc · about 11 hours ago

Le Pen Says She Will Run for Presidency After Court Lifts Ban An appeals court confirmed Marine Le Pens embezzlement conviction, but shortened a ban on her eligibility for elected office. That means the French far-right leader can run for president in 2027.

new york times · about 11 hours ago

JUST IN: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen announced that she will run for president in 2027 after an appeals court shortened her ban on holding public office reut.rs/4f41JzQ

bluesky_Reuters · about 12 hours ago

JUST IN - Marine Le Pen confirms that she will run for presidency next year and will appeal todays court ruling to Frances highest court. @disclosetv

telegram_Disclose.tv · about 12 hours ago

France: Marine Le Pen (RN-PfE) announces that she will file an appeal with the Cour de Cassation, following her conviction by the Court of Appeal today. She vows to remain a candidate in the 2027 presidential election. ➤

telegram_Europe Elects · about 12 hours ago

Entre sentence et annonce de sa candidature à lElysée... Récit dune journée mouvementée pour Marine Le Pen Reconnue coupable en appel, mardi à 14h, dans laffaire des assistants parlementaires européens du Front national, Marine Le Pen a annoncé, quelques heures plus tard, un pourvoi en cassation et être candidate à lélection présidentielle. ...

la libre · about 12 hours ago

Kavalluksesta tuomittu Marine Le Pen kertoi päätöksestään

iltalehti · about 12 hours ago

Frankreich: Marine Le Pen: Kandidiere bei Präsidentschaftswahl 2027 Nach Monaten der Spekulation steht es fest: Marine Le Pen tritt für die Rechtsnationalen an und will Frankreichs nächste Präsidentin werden. Kann sie gewinnen?

handelsblatt · about 12 hours ago

Behind the scenes: Marine Le Pens appeal verdict 🇫🇷 ⚖️ #French far-right figurehead Marine #LePen was found guilty in a #Paris court ruling that upheld her embezzlement conviction but enabled her to run in the 2027 presidential race. FRANCE 24s Catherine Norris-Trent takes us behind the scenes at the courthouse ▶️

france24 · about 12 hours ago

🔴Live: Will she run for president or not? Marine Le Pen speaks after her appeal trial

france24 · about 12 hours ago

No stopping Le Pen? French appeals court clears way for 2027 presidential run Did a court decision just alter the outcome a French presidential election thats less than 300 days in the future? Marine Le Pens conviction for funnelling EU parliamentary staff funds to her far-right National Rally party. Watered down by half, her 30-months of ineligibility to run for public office. That makes it now possible for her to launch a fourth bid for the presidency.

france24 · about 12 hours ago

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she will run for president Politician sets up unprecedented election campaign next year after judges uphold her conviction for embezzlement

financial times · about 12 hours ago

Marine Le Pen is running for the French presidency Despite being found guilty by the Paris court of appeal

the economist · about 12 hours ago

Marine Le Pen bejelentette, hogy indulni fog a 2027-es elnökválasztáson Nem adja át a helyét pártfogoltjának, Jordan Bardellának, de ha nyernek, ő lehet a miniszterelnök.

hvg.hu · about 12 hours ago

Le Pen tritt bei Präsidentschaftswahl an Ungeachtet ihrer Verurteilung hält die französische Rechtspopulistin Marine Le Pen an ihrer Präsidentschaftskandidatur fest. „Ich bin Kandidatin für die Präsidentschaftswahl, sagte sie am Dienstagabend dem Sender TF1 in Paris. Ein Berufungsgericht hatte Le Pen zuvor am Nachmittag wegen Veruntreuung von EU-Geldern unter anderem zu einem Jahr Hausarrest mit einer elektronischen Fußfessel verurteilt.

orf.at · about 12 hours ago

The party of white-collar crime: French MPs react to Le Pens conviction Marine Le Pens conviction was a long-awaited decision as it will decide who will be representing the far-right party National rally in the 2027 presidential election. Following the announcement of her sentence, FRANCE 24s Carys Garland went to the National Assembly to see what MPs from the left, right and centre thought of the decision. She tells us more.

france24 · about 12 hours ago

What to know about the electronic monitor Marine Le Pen must wear A Paris appeals court on Tuesday declared far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzlement and ruled that she must wear an electronic ankle monitor even if she decides to run for the presidency. In France, electronic home detention prohibits a person from leaving their home, or another designated location, except during the hours authorized by the judge.

france24 · about 12 hours ago

Frances Le Pen says still running for president, despite embezzlement conviction confirmed French far-right chief Marine Le Pen Tuesday said she was still standing for president next year, after an appeals court confirmed her embezzlement conviction but paved the way for her to run with a shorter ban from office. FRANCE 24s Mark Owen speaks with Dr Katy Brown, Fellow in Language and Social Justice at Manchester Metropolitan University.

france24 · about 12 hours ago

Frances Marine Le Pen must wear ankle tag after appeal ruling A French appeals court upheld Marine Le Pens conviction for misusing European Parliament funds.

aljazeera · about 12 hours ago

Marine Le Pen anuncia recurso para o Supremo O tribunal de recurso aplicou uma pena de inelegibilidade de 15 meses

observador · about 12 hours ago

Les réactions politiques affluent après lannonce de Marine Le Pen sur TF1 Marine Le Pen a annoncé mardi soir être candidate à lélection présidentielle malgré sa condamnation par la Cour dappel de Paris. ...

la libre · about 12 hours ago

Présidentielle 2027 : Marine Le Pen annonce être candidate, malgré sa condamnation en appel

lexpress · about 12 hours ago

EN DIRECT, procès en appel de Marine Le Pen : « La candidature à la présidentielle de la leader dextrême droite, qui se pourvoit en cassation, reste suspendue à une décision de justice » Marine Le Pen « entend reprendre la main », explique Abel Mestre, éditorialiste au « Monde » : larrêt de la Cour de cassation pourrait être rendu, au plus tôt au début 2027. En cas de décision défavorable, elle pourra entamer un bras de fer avec la justice, mettant en avant le fait quelle est en campagne depuis plusieurs mois et que lélection est proche.

le monde · about 12 hours ago

Marine Le Pen hält trotz Verurteilung an Präsidentschaftskandidatur fest Die französische Rechtspopulistin Marine Le Pen will trotz des Berufungsurteils ‌gegen sie bei der Präsidentschaftswahl im kommenden ‌Jahr antreten. Dies hatte sie zuvor noch ausdrücklich ausgeschlossen.

welt.de · about 12 hours ago