Marine Le Pen appeal ruling clears path for 2027 presidential bid

Marine Le Pen appeal ruling clears path for 2027 presidential bid
Reuters

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced on appeal to three years in prison, with two years suspended.

The Paris Court of Appeal ruled that the remaining one-year custodial sentence should be served under electronic surveillance.

The court also reduced her ban from holding public office to 45 months, with 30 months suspended. As she has already served the effective 15-month period since the original ruling in 2025, she is now eligible to stand in the 2027 presidential election.

Convictions upheld

Le Pen was found guilty of misappropriating European Parliament funds during her time as a Member of the European Parliament and of complicity in the misappropriation of public funds in her role as president of the National Rally.

The court said the offences were particularly serious, finding that the scheme operated for 11 years and diverted €2.8 million in European Parliament funds. Le Pen was also fined €100,000. 

The National Rally was fined €2 million, with €1 million of the penalty suspended.

The party can still appeal to France's Court of Cassation. Le Pen must now decide whether to pursue a 2027 presidential campaign, having previously said she would not run while required to wear an electronic ankle monitor. 

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