French appeals court upholds Marine Le Pen conviction for misappropriation of European funds
Paris court of appeal has upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misappropriation of EU funds while reducing her ineligibility period, which theoretically allows her to run in the 2027 presidential election.
French appeals court upholds Marine Le Pen conviction for misappropriation of European funds
The Paris court of appeal upheld on Tuesday Marine Le Pen's conviction for misappropriation of European public funds whilst reducing the length of her ineligibility period, thus theoretically opening the way for a candidacy in the 2027 presidential election.
The former National Rally candidate had been found guilty in March 2025 of abuse of trust and fraud in the matter of European parliamentary assistants. The court of appeal maintained this conviction but reduced the ineligibility sentence from five years to forty-five months, of which thirty are suspended.
The tribunal also imposed on the far-right leader a sentence of three years' imprisonment: two years suspended and one year custodial with electronic monitoring by ankle tag. This measure could render a presidential campaign difficult from a logistical standpoint.
The electronic device will require Le Pen to comply with a night-time curfew and travel restrictions, notably at weekends. A judge of the application of sentences will shortly set the exact terms of this surveillance. According to a judicial source, the device could complicate a national electoral campaign without however making it impossible. A request for removal of the ankle tag could be made after a few months in the event of good conduct.
Marine Le Pen had previously indicated that she would be reluctant to conduct a presidential campaign under electronic surveillance, arguing that it would damage her credibility. She is due to speak during a television interview on TF1 on Tuesday evening.
The case concerns the alleged misappropriation of European Parliament funds intended to pay parliamentary assistants, who are said to have actually worked for the party in France. The lawyer for the European Parliament, Patrick Maisonneuve, welcomed the decision, stating that justice had confirmed for a second time the misappropriation of public money.
The conviction had prompted mixed reactions, with some of Le Pen's allies denouncing judicial interference in democratic competition, whilst her opponents recalled that elected representatives must answer for their actions like any other citizen.
Source: Cyprus Mail