French court of appeal upholds Marine Le Pen conviction for EU funds misappropriation but reduces ineligibility period
The French court of appeal has upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misappropriation of European Union funds, but has reduced her ineligibility to 45 months, which in principle allows her to stand in the 2027 presidential election. She has also been sentenced to three years' imprisonment with elect
French court of appeal upholds Marine Le Pen conviction for EU funds misappropriation but reduces ineligibility period
The French court of appeal upheld the judgment convicting Marine Le Pen for misappropriation of European Union funds, whilst reducing her ineligibility, which in principle leaves her the possibility of standing in the 2027 presidential election. At the same time, the court imposed a sentence of three years' imprisonment: two years suspended and one year under electronic monitoring by ankle bracelet.
According to the court's ruling, Le Pen cannot hold public office for 45 months, of which 30 are suspended. Having already served the majority of the remaining 15 months of her ineligibility, which began to run following last year's judgment, she will be able to stand as a candidate in the April 2027 election. However, the new prison sentence with electronic monitoring could complicate the running of a presidential campaign.
Le Pen previously stated that she did not wish to conduct a campaign whilst serving a sentence under electronic monitoring, believing that this would damage her credibility as a candidate. She has not yet announced a final decision. She was due to appear on Tuesday evening during prime time on the TF1 channel, where she could reveal her political plans.
The case concerns allegations that National Rally officials misappropriated funds from the European Parliament intended for parliamentary assistants to pay party employees in France. In 2025, the trial court concluded that Le Pen played a central role in this scheme, which she disputes.
The verdict sparked mixed reactions: Le Pen's allies accused the judiciary of interference in the democratic process, whilst her political opponents emphasised that elected officials must answer for their actions before the law like any other citizen. Within the National Rally, intense discussions are taking place over two possible scenarios – a Le Pen candidacy or replacement by the party president, Jordan Bardella.
Source: 24sata.hr
Source: 24sata