Marine Le Pen convicted for misuse of European funds, maintains candidacy for 2027 presidential election
The leader of the National Rally was confirmed guilty of misuse of EU funds by the appeals court, but intends to run in the 2027 presidential election.
Marine Le Pen convicted for misuse of European funds, maintains candidacy for 2027 presidential election
A Paris appeals court has upheld the conviction of Marine Le Pen for misuse of European funds. Despite this verdict, the leader of the National Rally has announced she will be a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election.
According to tagesschau.de, the 57-year-old politician declared on television channel TF1: "I am a candidate for the presidential election. I will not change my mind." She specified her intention to challenge the decision before the highest court of appeal, which would suspend the sentence imposed by the appeals judges.
Le Pen had initially been found guilty in March 2025 of misappropriating millions of euros in European Union funds. At that time, she had been banned from public office for five years with immediate effect, which appeared to block her fourth candidacy for the Élysée.
The appeals court reduced this ban to 45 months, two-thirds of which are suspended. Since 15 months have already elapsed since the initial verdict, a new candidacy by Le Pen is now legally possible. Her prison sentence was also reduced from four to three years, two of which are suspended. She will therefore have to serve one year of home detention with an electronic tag.
Le Pen asserted she would conduct her election campaign without an electronic tag. She also confirmed she would form a partnership with the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, and indicated she would appoint him prime minister in the event of victory.
Source: Google News LU DE