French appeal judges have upheld the conviction of Marine Le Pen over the misuse of European Parliament funds, but the ruling does not automatically prevent her from running in France’s 2027 presidential election.
Le Pen, 57, appealed a March 31, 2025 conviction linked to the National Rally’s alleged misuse of European Parliament funds through parliamentary assistants.
A Paris court had initially imposed an immediate five-year ban from holding public office, blocking her from standing in the April 2027 presidential election while her appeal was pending. It also sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and imposed a €100,000 fine.
The Paris Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that Le Pen remained guilty but reduced the period of ineligibility to 45 months. Since she has already served 30 months of the ban, she has 15 months remaining.
Presidential campaign remains legally possible
The decision means Le Pen could theoretically register a presidential candidacy, although political uncertainty remains ahead of the election.
The court also handed down a three-year prison sentence, including two years suspended, meaning Le Pen would be required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for one year.
She and France’s prosecutor general have ten days to appeal the decision before the Court of Cassation, the country’s highest court for reviewing the application of the law in civil and criminal cases.
Le Pen questioned future legal battle
The National Rally leader has previously said she would not pursue another lengthy legal challenge if the outcome remained uncertain, arguing that it would make a presidential campaign impossible.
“You cannot launch a presidential campaign at the last minute,” she told French magazine Causeur last year, adding that she would not campaign while wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Also read: France will hold new presidential elections on April 18 and May 2
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