French Court Affirms Le Pen's Eligibility to Run for President, Suspends Electronic Tag Order

Marine Le Pen announced on 7 July 2026 that she will run for president in the 2027 French election and will appeal her conviction for misusing €2.8m in EU funds. A Paris appeal court found Le Pen guilty the same day of embezzling funds meant for European Parliament members between 2004 and 2016 to pay party staff.

The court reduced her sentence to wearing an electronic tag for one year but ruled she could stand for office while wearing it.

The tag order is suspended until the Court of Cassation rules, which is expected early in 2027. Le Pen told French television that the campaign begins immediately. She said she would pursue all legal avenues to defend her innocence and that if elected she would serve as president with Jordan Bardella as prime minister.

"We have a solid partnership, we complement each other," she stated. Public prosecutors said they will appeal the reduced sentence. Le Pen and Bardella are scheduled to appear together at a market in the Sarthe region on 8 July.

Othman Nasrou, secretary-general of the Republicans, said her candidacy despite the conviction damages trust in politics. Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal noted a moral dimension to running with a criminal record for embezzlement of public funds. Ex-Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said it was up to Le Pen to decide but she had been convicted twice and must explain herself to voters.

Le Pen has led the National Rally party since 2011. The first round of the presidential election is set for 18 April 2027 and the second round for 2 May 2027.