THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

The Conviction of Marine Le Pen: Legal, Political, and Democratic ... Apr 1 Apr 1 The Conviction of Marine Le Pen: Legal, Political, and Democratic Implications Dr. Antonio Bhardwaj Paris.Forum Introduction The conviction of Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), on charges of embezzling European Parliament funds, marks a pivotal moment in French politics. On March 31, 2025, a Paris court found Le Pen guilty of diverting €4–4.1 million in EU funds between 2004 and 2016 to pay party staff instead of parliamentary aides. The court imposed a four-year prison sentence (two years suspended, two under house arrest with electronic monitoring), a €100,000 fine, and an immediate five-year ban from public office. This ruling jeopardizes her 2027 presidential ambitions and raises critical questions about judicial independence, political accountability, and the resilience of French democracy. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the facts, consequences for Le Pen, and broader democratic implications. Legal Proceedings and Context Details of the Conviction The case centered on Le Pen’s misuse of EU parliamentary funds as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The…

"Rassemblement National" [National Rally] [ex Front National - FN] Marine Le Pen, long-time leader of France�s far-right National Rally and presidential hopeful, went on trial in Paris on 30 Sepember 2024, accused of misusing European parliamentary funds. More than 20 other senior figures in the party are also facing the same charges. They are accused of hiring assistants who worked on party affairs rather than for the European parliament which paid them. Investigating judges concluded that Le Pen, as party leader, orchestrated the allocation of parliamentary assistance budgets and instructed MEPs to hire individuals holding party positions. These individuals were presented as EU parliamentary assistants, but in reality, were allegedly working for the National Rally in various capacities. If found guilty, Le Pen could face fines and imprisonment � and potentially be declared ineligible to run for office for up to 10 years, hitting her presidential ambitions. Some observers expect the trial could prevent National Rally lawmakers, including Le Pen herself, from fully playing their opposition role in Parliament as they would be busy focusing on the party's defense. Since stepp…

Can Marine Le Pen run in France's 2027 presidential election? Court ... After months of anticipation, a Paris appeals court on Tuesday (July 7) cleared the way for French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to contest the 2027 presidential election, partly overturning a March 2025 ruling that had barred her from holding public office for five years after her conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. While the appeals courtupheld her conviction, it reduced her ban on holding elected office from five years to 45 months, two-thirds of which are suspended. It also reduced her prison sentence from four years to three, with two years suspended. However, she is required to wear an ankle bracelet for one year. Le Pen, who had previously said she would not contest the election if forced to campaign under electronic monitoring, announced after the ruling that she would run for president and appeal to France’s highest court, a move that could suspend that part of her sentence pending a final decision. Before Tuesday’s ruling, National Rally president Jordan Bardella, her protégé, had been widely expected to replace her as the French far-right’s presidential candidate if the ban was …

French court clears way for Le Pen to run in 2027 but under a rule she rejects By PA News Agency Share 0 Comments 2 Skip to next photo 1 / 1 Show caption 1 / 1 0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. A Paris appeals court cleared the way for popular far-right leader Marine Le Pen to possibly run for the French presidency next year but said she must wear an electronic bracelet, which she has said is a no-go. The verdict declared Ms Le Pen guilty of embezzlement but softened the ban on her holding elected office, putting the ball in her court. She must now decide whether campaigning in 2027 with a monitoring bracelet as part of her sentence to be served at home is possible. Marine Le Pen arrives at the courtroom for the verdict of her appeals trial, in Paris, France (Aurelien Morissard/AP) The verdict appears to be a partial victory for Le Pen. It reduced her ban on elected office – from five years handed down last year – to 45 months, two-thirds of which are suspended. It also cut her pris…

Marine Le Pen's Appeal Rejection Diminishes Hope She Could Run in 2027 ... Although migrant deportations increased by 8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the previous year, authorities issued 13% fewer return orders. A new intelligence report on extremism has prompted fresh accusations that the political elite is targeting the country’s largest opposition party, the AfD. MEP Charlie Weimers says Swedes have a right to understand how Islam is growing in the country. Marine Le Pen in 2022 By VOX España – https://flickr.com/photos/voxespana/51849414761/in/photostream/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116530944 The noose is tightening on Marine Le Pen. This week, the French Council of State rejected Marine Le Pen’s appeal against the immediate enforcement of her ineligibility penalty, which bars her from running in the 2027 presidential election. On March 31, 2025, Marine Le Pen was convicted by the French courtsin the European parliamentary assistants case, in which she was accused of embezzling European funds for the benefit of her party, the Rassemblement National (RN). The fine and prison sentence were accompanied by a measure of ine…

Marine Le Pen launches France presidential campaign after court decision to shorten ban <p>France’s far-right leader plans to take part in 2027 vote after court of appeal upholds her conviction for embezzlement</p><p>The French far-right leader <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/marine-le-pen">Marine Le Pen</a> launched her presidential campaign on Wednesday, after a decision by a court of appeal shortened her ban on running for office, allowing her to take part in the 2027 vote.</p><p>Le Pen said voters would decide her future.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/08/marine-le-pen-launches-france-presidential-campaign-court-decision-ban-electronic-tag">Continue reading...</a>

The Marine Le Pen Case: A Judicial Trap In Five Acts | | The video above is available with an audio track in English. Statement by Grégor Puppinck before the Conservative Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on June 20, 2025, and at the reception held at the ECLJ on June 18, 2025, on the theme of “Judicial obstruction of free elections.” Recent years have been marked by attempts at judicial obstruction of free elections, that is, the misuse of the judicial system to disqualify candidates from presidential elections. This practice was thought to be confined to dictatorships, but it is making a worrying comeback among Council of Europe member states, particularly this year, with the bans on Călin Georgescu and Marine Le Pen from standing in the presidential elections in Romania and France. We can also cite the cases of Donald Trump, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul currently in prison, and Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing very serious charges. Each of these figures was the opposition favorite in presidential elections and was the victim of the political use of the justice system to prevent or attempt to prevent their candidacy for the presidency. I wil…

Marine Le Pen ‘wants to talk politics’, but can she drown out the legal noise? <p>Viewed by some as a danger to democracy, the French far-right leader’s campaign is clouded in uncertainty under the shadow of an embezzlement case</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/marine-le-pen">Marine Le Pen</a>’s decision to run for French president in 2027, despite her legal woes, has drawn comparisons from her opponents to Donald Trump.</p><p>Just as the US president felt his voter base cared little about legal investigations against him, the French far-right leader shrugged off the leftwing protesters who shouted “criminal!” as she launched her presidential campaign at a market walkabout in western France on Wednesday. The previous day, an appeal court had upheld her <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/01/marine-le-pen-guilty-national-rally-embezzlement-fake-jobs-scam">conviction</a> for the embezzlement of European parliament funds.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/08/marine-le-pen-french-presidential-campaign-elections-embezzlement">Continue reading...</a>

What does the court ruling mean for Marine Le Pen’s presidential chances? <p>A look at the the case, the appeal court decision, and how it could affect the race to succeed Emmanuel Macron</p><p>A Paris court has delivered a ruling on Marine Le Pen’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/marine-le-pen-doubt-presidential-election-electronic-tag-france">appeal against her conviction</a> for embezzlement of public funds that could – at least in principle – allow France’s far-right figurehead to run in next year’s presidential election.</p><p>Here is a look at the ruling, the case that led up to it – and what the court’s decision means for the race to succeed Emmanuel Macron as French president.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/what-court-ruling-mean-marine-le-pen-presidential-chances">Continue reading...</a>

French far-right chief Marine Le Pen cleared to run for President but with ankle tag A Paris appeals court found Marine Le Pen guilty over the fake jobs scam at the European Parliament but reduced that sentence, banning her from office for 15 months as well as sentencing her to one year to be served with an electronic tag

'The party of white-collar crime': French MPs react to Le Pen's conviction Marine Le Pen's conviction was a long-awaited decision as it will decide who will be representing the far-right party National rally in the 2027 presidential election. Following the announcement of her sentence, FRANCE 24's Carys Garland went to the National Assembly to see what MPs from the left, right and centre thought of the decision. She tells us more.

BREAKING: Far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s guilty conviction upheld but ban from office shortened, potentially re-opening a path for 2027 presidential run. Follow our live page for the latest updates: reut.rs/4y9z3OI

Marine Le Pen seems politically dead, but can the far right win in ... French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on the day of the verdict of her trial over accusations of misappropriation of European Union funds, at the courthouse in Paris on March 31. Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Paris — “It’s my political death they want,” far-right leader Marine Le Pen claimed in November – a prediction that proved prescient, though few took it seriously at the time. The three-time French presidential candidate saw her path to power cut short on Monday when a court ruling banned her from running for public office for five years, triggering a political earthquake in France and knocking the frontrunner out of the 2027 presidential race. But far from decapitating the far right, this ruling – that followed a guilty verdict on embezzlement charges – could actually strengthen it by fueling populist grievances and accelerating the rebranding of Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party. It could finally free RN from the Le Pen name that has both defined its identity and plagued it for decades. “One should celebrate that a legal system independently delivered a verdict,…

How France's Marine Le Pen Fights Court Ruling Threatening 2027 Run Published byGlobal Banking & Finance Review Posted on July 2, 2026 · Last updated: July 2, 2026 By Juliette Jabkhiro PARIS, July 2 (Reuters) - French far-right leader Marine Le Pen awaits a crucial appeal ruling in Paris next week that will determine whether she can run in the 2027 presidential election, after being barred from public office over a conviction for misusing EU funds. Here's how the longtime leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) arrived at this point: WHAT WAS THE 'FAKE JOBS' SCHEME AT THE HEART OF THE CASE? Le Pen was accused of using European Parliament funds intended to finance the costs of parliamentary assistants to pay employees working for her political party. French investigative news website Mediapart in 2013 reported that Le Pen had hired two high-ranking members of her party, known then as the National Front (FN), as parliamentary assistants. Investigators later discovered these hires were not isolated cases but part of a wider system of "fake jobs". EU lawmakers are allocated funds to cover expenses, including salaries for parliamentary assistants, but are not allowed to us…

France's right-wing leader Marine Le Pen cleared to run in 2027 ... Marine Le Pen has been cleared to stand in the French presidency in the 2027 election, despite an appeals court upholding a 2025 embezzlement conviction against her . But she can only do so wearing an electronic tag — something she previously said was "not possible." She was originally sentenced last year to five years of ineligibility to run in presidential elections, but the appeals court reduced that time to 45 months, with 30 suspended and 15 to be served. She has already been ineligible for the period of time required under the revised sentence, making her eligible to run in the April 2027 national election. Le Pen did not immediately voice her intentions for the election. She was expected to speak at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday (2 p.m. Eastern). Marine Le Pen of the National Rally party leaves the Paris Court of Appeal on July 7, 2026, after the verdict in the appeal trial on the suspected embezzlement of European public funds. Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images Her National Rally party, previously known as the National Front, was found guilty in 2025 of embezzling European Union funds to pay staff mem…

French far-right leader Le Pen says will run in 2027 presidential election Her announcement followed a court ruling that reduced the length of time she was banned from holding public office.

French court clears a path for Le Pen to run for office with ... - CNN French far-right leader Marine Le Pen leaves the Paris Court of Appeal after the court upheld her conviction in Paris, France, on Tuesday. Jeanne Accorsini/SIPA/AP Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Paris — A French appeals court has opened the door for far-right leader Marine Le Pen to stand in next year’s presidential election, although she would likely be confined to her home with an ankle monitor after the court upheld her conviction for misusing EU funds. The court said the misappropriated public funds amounted to €2.8 million ($3.2 million). It ruled that Le Pen must serve a three-year jail term; however, it said two of those years were suspended and it ordered her to serve one year at home with an electronic monitoring tag. The appeals court also effectively reduced the amount of time she is barred from running for office to just 15 months – technically a 45-month ban with 30 months suspended – and gave her a €100,000 ($114,000) fine. The ruling means that she could still run for office in France’s 2027 presidential election while wearing an electronic ankle monitor – though that would make c…

What has French far-right leader Marine Le Pen been found guilty of and sentenced to? French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU fund, with the appeal's court sentencing her to a 15-month ineligibility for office and a year with an electronic tag. Technically this would allow her to run for the presidential election, but she has said she would not run with an electronic tag. FRANCE 2''s Catherine Norris-Trent is at the appeal's court in Paris and tells us more.

Le Pen says she'll run for French presidency next year despite court-ordered monitor Far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she'll run for the French presidency next year despite being sentenced Tuesday to wear a court-ordered electronic monitor for embezzlement.

Live: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces key ruling in race for president French far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces a key ruling Tuesday with a Paris appeals court ruling on an EU parliament funds misuse case, which will determine if she can run in the 2027 presidential elections. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

A timeline of Marine Le Pen’s political career and the rise of the French far right By: Sylvie Corbet, The Associated Press Posted: 5:17 AM CDT Monday, Jul. 6, 2026 Advertisement Advertise with us Tweet Share Print Email Read Later PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s political fate is at stake Tuesday when a Paris appeals court is to rule on whether she may be barred to run in the 2027 presidential election. Read this article for free: or Already have an account? Log in here » To continue reading, please subscribe: Digital Subscription One year of digital access for only $1.44 a week * Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper Access News Break, our award-winning app Play interactive puzzles *Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time. To continue reading, please subscribe: Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional $1 for the first 4 weeks* Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com Read the E-Edition…

Marine Le Pen to run for French presidency and appeal conviction in top court The hard-right National Rally leader has ended months of speculation, after a court ruled she could run but would have to wear a tag for a year.

Marine Le Pen’s political future at stake with ruling on electoral ban imminent <p>Leader of France’s far-right National Rally and a contender for the presidency set to hear appeal decision on Tuesday</p><p>Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right figurehead and a leading contender for its presidency, will learn on Tuesday whether she can run in next year’s election when a Paris appeals court rules on her attempt to overturn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/31/marine-le-pen-barred-from-running-for-french-presidency-in-2027">a ban on holding elected office</a>.</p><p>The ruling will determine whether the far-right National Rally (RN) will be led by Le Pen, 57, or her young protege, Jordan Bardella, 30 in next year’s general elections.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/marine-le-pen-political-future-waits-electoral-ban-upheld">Continue reading...</a>

Marine Le Pen Launches 2027 Presidential Bid After Court Clears ... World News Marine Le Pen Launches 2027 Presidential Bid After Court Clears Election Run French far right leader Marine Le Pen has spent more than a decade transforming her party from a political outsider into one of France's strongest electoral forces. Sana Khan July 8, 2026 Facebook X WhatsApp Linkedin ReddIt Telegram FILE PHOTO: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, member of parliament for the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party, poses prior to an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1, following the verdict in her appeal trial over misuse of EU funds, in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, France, July 7, 2026. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann French far right leader Marine Le Pen has spent more than a decade transforming her party from a political outsider into one of France’s strongest electoral forces. However, her presidential ambitions were thrown into doubt in March 2025 when a Paris court convicted her of embezzling European Parliament funds and imposed a five year ban on running for public office. On Tuesday, an appeals court upheld her conviction but reduced the elect…

Marine Le Pen is running for the French presidency Despite being found guilty by the Paris court of appeal

Marine Le Pen barred from public office as French court finds her ... Now 93° Wed 95° Thu 95° President Donald Trump attends the NATO leaders' social dinner in Turkey. bySYLVIE CORBET Associated Press PARIS (AP) —French far-right leader Marine Le Pen strode out of a French court as the chief judge on Monday barred her from seeking public office after she was found guilty of embezzling EU funds. The judge hasn’t yet said how long Le Pen will be ineligible for running for public office — a decision that could derail the far-right leader's career and infuriate her millions of supporters. Le Pen didn’t wait around to find out. In a moment of high drama, the politician picked up her bag, slung it over her arm and strode briskly out of the courtroom, her heels click-click-clicking on the hardwood floor, leaving disbelief in her wake. The chief judge looked up at Le Pen but carried on reading out the sentence. Le Pen left the high-rise Paris courthouse without stopping to speak to reporters and climbed into a car that drove her away. Earlier Monday, from the front row of the court, Le Pen showed no immediate reaction when the judge declared her guilty. But she grew more agit…

Marine Le Pen's Embezzlement Verdict Shakes France's 2027 Race - Marine Le Pen Marine Le Pen’s conviction for embezzling EU funds bans her from the 2027 French presidential race, reshaping the political landscape. Will her appeal succeed? On a crisp Monday morning in Paris, March 31, 2025, the political future of France took a dramatic turn. Marine Le Pen, the fiery leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), walked into a courtroom expecting a fight. She left with a verdict that could end her decades-long quest for the French presidency. Convicted of embezzling European Union funds, Le Pen now faces a five-year ban from public office, a ruling that strikes her from the 2027 presidential race unless an appeal overturns the decision. For a woman who has spent years polishing her image as a mainstream contender, this moment feels seismic—a clash of justice, politics, and democracy itself. The judge’s gavel fell hard. Alongside the ban, Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence—two years suspended, two to be served under house arrest with an electronic tag—and a €100,000 ($108,200) fine. Her lawyer quickly vowed to appeal, a process that could stretch over months or even years in …

French court clears a path for Le Pen to run for office with ankle ... French far-right leader Marine Le Pen leaves the Paris Court of Appeal after the court upheld her conviction in Paris, France, on Tuesday. Jeanne Accorsini/SIPA/AP Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Paris — A French appeals court has opened the door for far-right leader Marine Le Pen to stand in next year’s presidential election, although she would likely be confined to her home with an ankle monitor after the court upheld her conviction for misusing EU funds. The court said the misappropriated public funds amounted to €2.8 million ($3.2 million). It ruled that Le Pen must serve a three-year jail term; however, it said two of those years were suspended and it ordered her to serve one year at home with an electronic monitoring tag. The appeals court also effectively reduced the amount of time she is barred from running for office to just 15 months – technically a 45-month ban with 30 months suspended – and gave her a €100,000 ($114,000) fine. The ruling means that she could still run for office in France’s 2027 presidential election while wearing an electronic ankle monitor – though that would make c…

France's far-right leader Le Pen hits campaign trail after conviction in EU embezzlement case France's far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen launched her fourth presidential campaign in the small town of La Flèche in the country's Loire Valley Wednesday after an appeals court cleared her to run for office – despite upholding her conviction for misusing millions of euros in public funds.

Marine Le Pen Cleared To Run For President After Public Funds Scandal Ann Rodgers Contributor July 07, 2026 3:18 PM ET July 07, 2026 3:18 PM ET Ann Rodgers Contributor Font Size: A French appeals court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen’s conviction for misusing European Union funds but significantly reduced the political penalty against the National Rally leader, clearing the way for her to compete in France’s 2027 presidential election. The ruling marks a major victory for Le Pen after a lower court’s 2025 decision effectively barred her from seeking public office for five years, according to the BBC. However, the appeals court shortened the ban and said they believe the penalty has already been served. French court clears way for Marine Le Pen to run for president in 2027 but orders her to wear electronic tag https://t.co/lWqJDu97es — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 7, 2026 The Associated Press (AP) reported that the Paris appeals court upheld Le Pen’s conviction for embezzling roughly €2.8 million ($3.2 million) in European Parliament funds that prosecutors said were used to pay party staff rather than legitimate parliamentary assistants. However, the court reduced her inel…

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen cleared to run for president but ... French far-right chief Marine Le Pen's political future remained uncertain Tuesday after a court cleared her to run but wearing an ankle tag, potentially hampering a campaign for next year's presidential elections when her party has its strongest chance yet of winning power. A lower court last year had sentenced Le Pen, 57, toa five-year ban from public office and a two-year sentenceover a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament, threatening the three-time presidential candidate's hopes to replace outgoing centrist President Emmanuel Macron. The Paris appeals court found Le Pen guilty over the scam but reduced that sentence, banning her from office for 15 months as well as sentencing her to one year to be served with an electronic tag. Dating from March 2025, the ban is expected to have expired this year, clearing the way in principle for her to run in polls set for April and May next year. But she has said she may not run if the sentence prevents her from campaigning. "When you're a presidential candidate, you need to be completely free to move around,"she said last week in a televised interview. "…

Le Pen says she'll run for French president - but must wear ankle tag French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has announced she will run for president in 2027 after an appeals court shortened her ban on public office – but she faces having to campaign while wearing an electronic ankle tag. The 57-year-old’s presidential hopes had been in limbo since March 2025, when she received a five-year electoral ban for using money from the European Parliament to pay ⁠wages for staff at her anti-immigrant National Rally (RN) party. “Tonight, I am a candidate in the presidential election,” she said in a prime-time interview on TF1 on Tuesday night, ending speculation that she might not run because of the monitoring. The RN leads opinion polls for next April's election. And ⁠Le Pen, who has three times failed to win the presidency ​for ⁠the far-right in 15 years at the helm, is gambling that voters can overlook her conviction. open image in gallery Le Pen will have to wear an ankle tag for one year ( Reuters ) The EU parliament’s lawyer said the ruling “demonstrated that justice is independent”. “We note a significant sentence reduction,” Rodolphe Bosselut said according to Politico. He said he w…

As French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's appeal trial ends, her ... Far-right leader Marine Le Pen walks outside the courtroom during a short break in her appeals trial, in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives for her appeal trial, in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, center, arrives for her appeal trial, in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives for her appeal trial, in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives for her appeal trial, in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PARIS (AP) — A Paris appeals court set a verdict date of July 7 for Marine Le Pen in her European Union misuse of funds case, a crucial decision that could derail the far-right leader’s presidential bid. The trial ended Wednesday with one question looming above all others — whether Le Pen willbe able to run for presidentnext year. Le Pen, 57, is challenging a March 2025 verdict that found her and other members o…

France's Marine Le Pen fraud conviction upheld, with a 15-month ban on running for office Under the appeals verdict the far-right leader may be able to run for president in 2027, though she would have to wear an ankle monitor.

Court leaves opening for Le Pen to seek French presidency PARIS - A French appeal court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen&rsquo;s conviction for misusing EU funds but shortened her ban on running for public office, in theory preserving a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential election.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen barred from seeking ... - Newsday Far-right leader Marine Le Pen poses prior to an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1, after a French court convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris. Credit: AP/Thomas Samson By The Associated Press Updated March 31, 2025 Share PARIS — A French court on Monday convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years — a hammer blow to the far-right leader’s presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics. Le Pen denounced the verdict in an interview with French TV channel TF1 as a “political” move aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election and said that millions of French people “are outraged.” She described the ruling as a violation of the rule of law, said she would appeal and asked that the court proceedings take place before the 2027 campaign. She would remain ineligible to be a candidate until the appeal is decided. Le Pen also was given four years’ imprisonment, with two to be served…

BREAKING: Paris Court of Appeal has upheld Marine Le Pen's guilty verdict for embezzlement, but reduced her sentence to three years in prison (two suspended and one to be served at home with an electronic bracelet). She can now run in the 2027 French presidential election if she chooses.

France appeals court opens door for Le Pen presidential run, with ankle tag Paris appeals court rules Le Pen guilty of misusing public funds but reduces the ban on her holding public office.

Marine Le Pen branding as 'victim of judicial harassment' would be 'political stretch' Marine Le Pen is set to give a crucial interview on French primetime television on July 7 following a sentence handed down by a court of appeal after she was found guilty of systemising the embezzlement of EU funds within her party, the National Rally. Although she has said she would not run with an electronic tag on, she could well change her mind. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent looks at the implications of such a decision.

France's Le Pen says still running for president, despite embezzlement conviction confirmed French far-right chief Marine Le Pen Tuesday said she was still standing for president next year, after an appeals court confirmed her embezzlement conviction but paved the way for her to run with a shorter ban from office. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Dr Katy Brown, Fellow in Language and Social Justice at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Marine Le Pen faces key appeal ruling over 2027 presidential bid France's far-right chief Marine Le Pen faces a key ruling next week that will determine if she can run in the 2027 presidential elections, in what is seen as her best chance at the top job. A lower court handed the 57-year-old politician a five-year ban from public office last year and a two-year sentence over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament, dashing her ambition to head the EU state. FRANCE 24's Philip Turle brings you this analysis.

Marine Le Pen Barred From Running in 2027 French Elections Marine Le Pen Barred From Running in 2027 French Elections Europe Apr 26 Written By Annalise Vézina Associated Press/Michel Euler On March 31st , French courts found the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) party, Marine Le Pen, guilty of embezzling millions of euros of European Union funds. This decision shook national politics, making Le Pen ineligible for the 2027 presidential election in France. This court decision has massive implications. Before the verdict, Le Pen was the frontrunner in national polling ahead of the 2027 French election. Projected to win 32.0 percent of the vote, with the runner-up only receiving 23.5 percent, Le Pen was the clear national favorite. After running three times before, the next election would have been Le Pen’s best chance at winning the French presidency. There are still chances Le Pen could run for president. She is determined not to back down, stating that “I’m a fighter and I’m not going to be eliminated.” Part of her strategy to undermine court supremacy has been attacking the legitimacy of the institution, calling the court’s decision a “‘nuclear bomb d…

France’s Court of Appeal to rule on Le Pen conviction – what it’s all about The far-right leader could be prevented from running for president in 2027 if embezzlement charges are upheld.

French far-right leader Le Pen faces appeal trial that could decide her ... French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in Paris on Monday. Tom Nicholson / Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google Jan. 13, 2026, 5:18 AM EST / Source : The Associated Press By The Associated Press French far-right leader Marine Le Pen returns to court Tuesday to appeal an embezzlement conviction, with her 2027 presidential ambitions hanging on the outcome of the case. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. Le Pen, 57, is seeking to overturn a March ruling that found her guilty of misusing European Parliament funds . She was slapped with a five-year ban from holding elected office, two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, a further two-year suspended sentence and a 100,000-euro ($116,800) fine. “I hope I’ll be able to convince the judges of my innocence,” Le Pen told reporters Monday. “It’s a new court with new judges. The case will be reset, so to speak.” She was seen as the potential front-runner to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election until last year’s ruling, which sent shock waves through French politics…

No stopping Le Pen? French appeals court clears way for 2027 presidential run Did a court decision just alter the outcome a French presidential election that’s less than 300 days in the future? Marine Le Pen’s conviction for funnelling EU parliamentary staff funds to her far-right National Rally party. Watered down by half, her 30-months of ineligibility to run for public office. That makes it now possible for her to launch a fourth bid for the presidency.

France's Marine Le Pen awaits verdict in pivotal case A guilty verdict will result in the far-right leader being barred from running for president in 2027.

French court opens door for Marine Le Pen to run for president ... - CNBC A French appeal court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds but shortened her ban on running for public office, in theory preserving a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential election. However, the court also sentenced Le Pen to a three-year jail term: two suspended and one with an electronic ankle tag. This could make a presidential campaign politically and logistically difficult. It is now up to Le Pen to say if she will run to become modern France's first far-right president. She is due to give a prime-time TV interview on TF1 at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), in which she may make an announcement on her political future. Le Pen previously said she would be reluctant to wage a presidential campaign while serving a sentence under electronic monitoring, arguing that it would interfere with campaigning and undermine her credibility. But she is yet to confirm what she will do. As she left the courtroom, Le Pen was smiling but did not say a word. She then went to the headquarters of her party, the anti-immigrant National Rally (RN), to discuss what to do next. Le Pen…

Marine Le Pen found guilty, but court clears way for presidential run if she wears tag The National Rally leader now has to decide whether she will run with an electronic tag and will speak on TV later.

French court clears Le Pen for 2027 presidential run under condition she rejects <p>Judge upholds far-right leader's embezzlement verdict but lifts ban on holding public office; sentence would still require her to wear electronic bracelet during election campaign</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-court-clears-le-pen-for-2027-presidential-run-under-condition-she-rejects/">French court clears Le Pen for 2027 presidential run under condition she rejects</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com">The Times of Israel</a>.</p> <figure><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/07/AP26188467302363-e1783435407408-1024x640.jpg" title="French court clears Le Pen for 2027 presidential run under condition she rejects" border="0" width="160" height="100" class="type:primaryImage"></figure>

Marine Le Pen's Trial: And Now, What To Expect? President of Rassemblement National (RN) parliamentary group Marine Le Pen leaves during a break in the defense’s closing argument in the appeal trial at the Palais de Justice in Paris on February 4, 2026. ALAIN JOCARD / AFP By wielding his supermajority as a weapon, Péter Magyar has chosen the path of permanent escalation. Brussels frames the digital euro, age verification, and Chat Control as separate solutions to real issues, but together they highlight who controls the digital infrastructure shaping everyday life in Europe. In the choice between thriving capitalism and over-taxed regulatory hell, money speaks louder than Eurocratic political hype. After a long afternoon of closing arguments in Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial overthe European parliamentary assistants’ case, the advocates general ruled in favour of upholding the sentence handed down in the first instance a year ago against the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) MPs—albeit with some nuances. The final verdict will not be known for several months, but Marine Le Pen’s chances of being able to stand in the 2027 presidential election are steadily dwindling. At…

Marine Le Pen will run for election in 2027. Will she have to wear an electronic tag? <p>Court clears way for RN leader to be presidential candidate after she was found guilty of overseeing a scheme that misused more than €4m of EU money</p><p><em>• </em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/22/this-is-europe-sign-up-guardian-email-updates"><em>Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here</em></a></p><p>So she’s running. Written off by many after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/31/marine-le-pen-barred-from-running-for-french-presidency-in-2027">her conviction last year</a> for embezzling public funds, Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right figurehead, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/marine-le-pen-doubt-presidential-election-electronic-tag-france">insisted yesterday</a> there was “no scenario in which I will not be a candidate” for the French presidency in next year’s elections.</p><p>Hours earlier, a Paris appeals court <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/07/nato-summit-zelenskyy-trump-ukraine-rutte-defence-eu-spending-turkey-france-macron-le-pen-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%…

Far-right leader Le Pen starts campaign, faces mixed reactions in France A court ruling has allowed Le Pen to campaign despite embezzlement conviction, sparking heated debates across France.

Fresh doubt over Marine Le Pen presidential bid as court orders electronic tag <p>Court shortens electoral ban but custodial sentence could complicate far-right leader’s campaign hopes</p><p>A French court of appeal has upheld Marine Le Pen’s ⁠conviction ⁠for embezzling European parliament funds but shortened her ban ⁠on running for elected office, potentially reopening a narrow path for the far-right ​leader ‌to run ‌in the 2027 presidential race.</p><p>However, ‌the court also handed Le Pen a three-year jail term, with two years suspended and one year in which she must wear ​an electronic ankle tag for monitoring. This could make a presidential campaign politically ⁠and logistically difficult.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/marine-le-pen-doubt-presidential-election-electronic-tag-france">Continue reading...</a>

Paris Appeals Court Ruling May Impact Marine Le Pen's 2027 Presidential ... World Paris Appeals Court Ruling May Impact Marine Le Pen's 2027 Presidential Bid 05 July 2026, 07:00 1786 Share Tweet Share Link Share Tweet Share Link Paris’ appeals court is scheduled to rule Tuesday in the embezzlement case involving Marine Le Pen, a decision that may determine if one of France’s leading presidential contenders can participate in next year's election. Le Pen, aged 57, is appealing a conviction from March 2025. That conviction found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds by paying party staff with money designated for EU parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. The lower court had sentenced her to prison time, suspended pending appeal, and imposed a five-year ban on holding elected office. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing and maintains hopes of mounting a fourth presidential bid. If she is prohibited from running, her long-time protégé Jordan Bardella, 30, could become the party’s presidential candidate, thereby altering the race to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. The following outlines potential outcomes and their implic…

Mohan Sinha08 Jul 2026, 01:00 GMT+10 PARIS, France: A French appeals court on July 7 confirmed Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing European Union funds but reduced the length of her ban from running for public office. This means she could still run in the 2027 presidential election. However, the court also gave her a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and one year to be served with an electronic ankle tag. This could make it harder for her to run a presidential campaign both politically and practically. It is now up to Le Pen to decide whether she will run to become France's first far-right president in modern times. She is expected to appear in a prime-time TV interview on TF1 at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), where she may announce her plans. Le Pen had earlier said she would not want to campaign while being monitored with an electronic tag, as it could disrupt her campaign and damage her credibility. She has not yet confirmed her decision. After leaving the courtroom, Le Pen smiled but did not speak. She then went to her party's headquarters, the anti-immigration National Rally (RN), to discuss her next steps. In March 2025, Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlemen…

Marine Le Pen loses appeal but could still run for president of France July 7 (UPI) -- Marine Le Pen's appeal verdict Tuesday has cleared the way for her to run for president of France again, but whether she will isn't clear. Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally party who was convicted on charges of embezzlement for misusing European Parliament funds, lost the appeal . But the court shortened the ban on running for office from five years to 15 months, which have already been served. So, she could run for office now. She was a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017. Le Pen, 57, has said running for president of France would be too difficult because she is required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for a year -- instead of two years in prison -- that would restrict her movements, making campaigning too difficult. She could still appeal to France's highest court, the Court of Cassation, and she has 10 days to decide. That would also prevent her from campaigning because of the time it would take, likely several months. Le Pen told supporters in Liévin, France, over the weekend, "if the judiciary bars me from running for the presidency," she would in…

Le Pen verdict triggers uproar from far right in France and beyond ... Le Pen verdict triggers uproar from far right in France and beyond By The Associated Press - | Mar 31, 2025 FILE - Andre Ventura, leader of Portugal populist right wing party Chega, left, speaks with Dutch far right wing politician Geert Wilders, center and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen during the far-right Patriots for Europe summit in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul White, File) PARIS (AP) — The court’s decision landed like a political shockwave — barring French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from holding office for five years and instantly upending the country’s next presidential race. By Monday afternoon, the ruling had reverberated far beyond France’s borders, sending ripples through nationalist circles across Europe and igniting jubilation and fury in equal measure. Supporters of Le Pen decried the verdict as a brazen assault on democracy. Detractors punched the air in celebration. And even some of her fiercest critics wondered aloud whether the court had overstepped, cutting short the candidacy of a woman voters were still free to support. Once seen as a frontrunner for Fran…

French court allows far-right leader Marine Le Pen to run for president ... Marine Le Pen on Wednesday. Julie Sebadelha / AFP via Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google July 7, 2026, 8:08 AM EDT By Chantal Da Silva Far-right leader Marine Le Pen will be able to run in France’s presidential election next year, though her involvement remained in doubt Tuesday after a Paris appeals court upheld her conviction for misusing European Union funds. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. The court shortened her ban on running for elected office, potentially reopening the path for her to run. However it ruled she must wear an electronic ankle tag for a year, making a campaign both logistically and politically difficult. Le Pen herself appeared to rule out a run if she was forced to wear a tag. “If I’m allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn’t be possible,” she said in an interview last week. Le Pen, 57, who has run for president in France thrice, was banned from holding public office for five years in March last year after a court found her guilty of embez…

Court upholds Marine Le Pen's conviction but allows her to run for ... PARIS (AP) — French far-right leaderMarine Le Penwill be allowed to run for president in next year’s election, after a court on Tuesdayreduced her ban on holding elected office. However, the court ruled that she must wear an electronic ankle bracelet for a year, casting her potential run into doubt. The court also upheld Le Pen’s March 2025 conviction formisusing European Parliament funds. The verdict is set to reshape the 2027 contest to replace PresidentEmmanuel Macron. The constitution prevents Macron from seeking a third consecutive term. Le Pen, 57, had appealeda 2025 convictionthat found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusingEuropean Parliamentfunds by paying party staff with money intended for EU parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. The lower courtsentenced her to prison time, suspended pending appeal, and imposed a five-year ban on holding elected office. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing. She had hoped to mount a fourth bid for the presidency. Although the verdict shortened her ban on running for office, she has suggested that it wouldn’t be possible for her…

How Paris appeals court ruling could upend Marine Le Pen's 2027 ... FILE- French far-right leader Marine Le Pen reacts at the National Assembly during a session on April 1, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File) PARIS (AP) — Paris’ appeals court is set to rule Tuesday in Marine Le Pen’sembezzlement case, a decision that could determine whetherone of France’s leading presidential contenderscan run in next year’s election. Le Pen, 57, is appealing a March 2025 conviction that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds by paying party staff with money intended for EU parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. The lower court sentenced her to prison time, suspended pending appeal, and imposed a five-year ban on holding elected office. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing and still hopes to mount a fourth bid for the presidency. If she is barred from running,her longtime protégé Jordan Bardella, 30, could instead become the party’s presidential candidate, reshaping the race to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. Here’s a look at the possible outcomes and what they could mean for France’s 2027 presidential election. I…

French court clears path for conservative presidential candidate, but house arrest threatens campaign Marine Le Pen&apos;s embezzlement ban was shortened to allow a 2027 presidential run, but she must wear an ankle monitor that could complicate campaigning.

In pictures: Marine Le Pen’s political rise and frustrated presidential ambitions French far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen could see her 40-year political career come to an end on Tuesday if French courts rule that she is guilty of embezzling public funds and ineligible to stand for the presidency in 2027. FRANCE 24 takes a look at how she rose to prominence in France and brought her National Rally party into mainstream politics.

Will Le Pen rise again? French nationalist leader defiant after court's ruling Within hours of a court of appeal confirming a guilty verdict, Marine Le Pen had already launched her presidential campaign.

Le Pen says she will seek to overturn ankle tag ruling and intends to run for French president - Europe live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/07/nato-summit-zelenskyy-trump-ukraine-rutte-defence-eu-spending-turkey-france-macron-le-pen-europe-latest-news-updates Being a convicted […]

France: The Paris Court convicted Marine Le Pen to three years and sanctions over the parliamentary assistant case, including an office ban. Despite this, she can still run in 2027, keeping RN leadersh... Source: https://www.radionizza.it/le-pen-15-mesi-dinabilitazione-possibile-candidatura-2027/

Behind the scenes: Marine Le Pen's appeal verdict 🇫🇷 ⚖️ #French far-right figurehead Marine #LePen was found guilty in a #Paris court ruling that upheld her embezzlement conviction but enabled her to run in the 2027 presidential ​race. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent takes us behind the scenes at the courthouse ▶️

Marine Le Pen appeal could mark end of an era for French politics ... Experts point to the extreme-right leader's five-year ban on office as a sign courts are forcing politicians to look at the law in a new light. Le Pen is fighting to overturn the sentence. PARIS (CN) — France’sextreme-right leader Marine Le Pentold the Paris Appeals Court on Wednesday the sentence barring her from running for office is undemocratic. “I still believe that the ineligibility with immediate effect is questionable from a democratic standpoint,” Le Pen said, responding to a question about her previous claims the judges at her March 2025 embezzlement trial were politically motivated. Le Pen is appealing a guilty verdict for a multi-million dollar embezzlement schemewith dire political consequences — she was banned from running for public office for five years, effective as soon as the sentence was passed. If the ban is upheld, she would be ineligible to run for president in 2027. The timing couldn’t be worse for Le Pen;her National Rally party, known as the RN, has gained unprecedented popularity in recent years and polls predict she could win. She has run and lost in France’s past three presidenti…

Marine Le Pen appeal: Election ban lifted but prison sentence upheld Marine Le Pen appeal: Election ban lifted but prison sentence upheld The ruling means the far-right MP is legally free to stand in 2027, although she has said she would not run if required to wear an electronic bracelet The decision leaves Rassemblement National president Jordan Bardella, pictured here with Marine Le Pen at Lievin, Pas-de-Calais, as the party’s expected candidate for the 2027 presidential race Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo Zane Lilley Zane Lilley Editorial Team - The Connexion Published Tuesday 07 July 2026 - 14:07 TRENDING Premium Premium Live map: Where are wildfires in France today? Premium Premium EES: 44,000 individuals refused entry to EU since launch Premium Premium What are penalties for overstaying 90-day allowance in France? The Paris appeals court has partly upheld Marine Le Pen's appeal, lifting her five-year ban on running for public office but keeping a prison sentence that is likely to include an electronic bracelet. Ms Le Pen has consistently said she would not be a candidate in the 2027 presidential election if she was subject to wearing an ankle bracelet The court partially up…

French court opens door to Le Pen presidential run, with ankle tag A French appeal court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen’s conviction for misusing EU funds but shortened her ban on running for public office, in theory preserving a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential election. However, ‌the court also sentenced Le Pen to a three-year jail term: two suspended and one with an electronic ankle tag. This would make a presidential campaign politically and logistically difficult, and casts doubt on whether she will in fact continue to seek...

Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from public office in EU embezzlement case A French ​appeals court on ​July 7 upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds ​but shortened ‌her ban ⁠on running for elected office. In theory, this potentially re-opens a path for the ⁠far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential ​race. But Le Pen is also sentenced to wearing an electronic tag for a year. She had said herself she would not run if that were the case. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent tells us the latest from the court.

Moment of destiny for France's Le Pen in verdict to decide her future ... France is in a state of nervous excitement as it awaits Tuesday’s court verdict which will determine if nationalist frontrunner Marine Le Pen can stand in next year’s presidential election. Rarely in a judicial decision in France have the political stakes been higher. Latest opinion polls suggest that the 57-year-old leader of the National Rally (RN) is well-positioned to become France’s next head of state. But if the appeal court in Paris follows last year’s initial verdict in her trial for misuse of European parliamentary funds, then Le Pen will be declared ineligible for public office and her political hopes will be in ruins. The RN’s candidate in the April-May election would automatically become Le Pen’s much younger colleague, 30-year-old Jordan Bardella. Polls currently indicate that he too would be favourite in the elections – but his youth and inexperience could start to tell once campaigning gets underway. “Because of the presidential election, the decision you must render is of dizzying significance,” Le Pen’s lawyer Rudolphe Bosselut told the court in his summing-up in February. After deliberatin…

France: Le Pen vows to run despite upheld graft conviction After a court appeal rendered her eligible in theory to run while wearing an ankle tag, the far-right leader says she intends to stand next year. She repeated her plan to appeal again, saying the tag may not be needed.

France's Le Pen Faces Crunch Verdict Before Presidential Vote France's far-right chief Marine Le Pen faces a key ruling next week that will determine if she can run in the 2027 presidential elections, in what is seen as her best chance at the top job. A lower court handed the 57-year-old politician a five-year ban from public office last year and a two-year sentence over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament, dashing her ambition to head the EU state. If the appeals court on July 7 upholds last year's bombshell ruling, the three-time presidential candidate from the National Rally (RN) party will be banned from vying to replace outgoing centrist President Emmanuel Macron. Le Pen came third in the 2012 polls, then twice made the runoffs against Macron in 2017 and 2022. She has said she will decide whether to compete next year after the appeal court ruling, which also includes a shorter ban from public office and some form of house arrest. "I'm not scared," she said this week in the run-up to the verdict. "If I can run, I will -- as long as I can campaign." Le Pen has suggested that her lieutenant, 30-year-old RN party leader Jordan Bardella, could stand instead if she has to s…

Marine Le Pen could still run in NEXT election despite five-year ban as ... Donald Trump delivers surprise verdict on Harry Kane after England win WATCH: Irish Freedom leader hits out at decision to ban Marine Le Pen from standing GB News ByGeorge Bunn, Published: 03/04/2025 President Emmanuel Macron condemned threats made against judges Marine Le Pen could still run in France's 2027 presidential election despite being handed a five-year ban from public office. The Paris appeals court has announced it will fast-track her case with a decision expected by summer 2026. This accelerated timeline would give the hard-right National Rally leader enough time to enter the race should she be cleared of wrongdoing. Le Penwas convicted on Monday of embezzling European Parliament funds. President of the Rassemblement National (RN) parliamentary group Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds Reuters The court found her guilty of running a system of fake job contracts to siphon European funds intended for parliamentary assistants to instead pay party workers in France. A total of 24 people were involved in the case, in addition to the party itself. The jud…

Marine Le Pen launches French presidential campaign to cheers and boos ... French far-right leader Marine Le Pen officially launched her presidential campaign in western France on Wednesday, greeted by a volatile mix of cheers and boos. The event unfolded just a day after an appeals court confirmed her conviction for embezzling EU funds , yet crucially enabled her to stand for office. As Ms Le Pen engaged with the public in the street market of La Fleche, Loire Valley, the contrasting sentiments were stark. Supporters chanted "Marine, President!", while detractors jeered "Give the money back!" and "Go to jail!", signalling the deep divisions her candidacy inspires. open image in gallery Marie-Caroline Le Pen, her sister and RN delegate for Sarthe, surrounded by supporters and journalists during a visit at a market in La Fleche ( Reuters ) The Paris appeals court had on Tuesday upheld her March 2025 conviction for misusing European Parliament funds to pay party staff, but simultaneously shortened her ban on running for office. This contentious start hints at the tensions that may define her presidential bid. Le Pen, who at 57 has already run for president three times and is leading…

French court bars far-right leader Marine Le Pen from public office for ... French court bars far-right leader Marine Le Pen from public office for embezzlement NPR | By Rebecca Rosman Published March 31, 2025 at 5:30 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Thibault Camus / AP French far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives at a Paris court expected to deliver a verdict in an embezzlement case that could shake up French politics and derail far-right leader Marine Le Pen's career Monday, March 31, 2025 in Paris. Updated March 31, 2025 at 17:13 PM ET PARIS — In a ruling that could reshape France's political future, a French court on Monday convicted far-right leader Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from running for public office for five years. The decision effectively removes her from the 2027 presidential race, where she was seen as a leading candidate. Le Pen, who says she will file an appeal, went on the French television broadcaster TF1 Monday evening where she criticized the ruling as a "political decision." "The rule of law has been totally violated by this decision," she said, adding she would appeal "as soon as possible." "Millions of French pe…

France's Marine Le Pen sentenced to house arrest, 2027 presidential bid remains uncertain Marine Le Pen faces house arrest and a ban from public office after a court ruling. This sentence could impact her presidential election bid scheduled for April and May 2027. The case involves allegations of misusing European Parliament funds for fake jobs between 2004 and 2016. Le Pen denies the charges and claims the party acted in good faith.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen tries new tack in appeal critical to ... Le Pen is fighting to overturn a conviction that left her ineligible to run for president in 2027. PARIS (CN) — France’sExtreme-right leader Marine Le Penmaintained at her highly anticipated appeal Tuesday afternoon she didn’t know about any fraudulent scheme taking place on her watch. When hearings opened Jan. 13, the far-right leader said, “If a crime has been committed, and everyone agrees that a crime has indeed been committed, I was not aware of it.” On Tuesday, Michèle Agi, president of the appeals court, opened by repeating the quote back to Le Pen. “Can you elaborate?” she asked. In March 2025,Le Pen was convicted of embezzling millions in European Union fundsalongside 23 members of her National Rally party, known as the RN. Investigators said the party’s lawmakers received $24,500 monthly paychecks meant for parliamentary assistants in Brussels. The outcome of the appeal will determine her political fate in the runup to France’s 2027 presidential elections. Le Pen stood in front of the packed courtroom, gesticulating and often talking over Agi. Almost immediately, she shifted blame from herself…

France: Marine Le Pen says she will run for presidency After a court appeal rendered her eligible in theory to run while wearing an ankle tag, the far-right leader says she intends to stand next year. She repeated her plan to appeal again, saying the tag may not be needed.

French court clears way for far-right leader Le Pen to run in ... - WFMZ Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn SMS Email France Politics Jean-Francois Badias - AP Far-right party National Rally president Jordan Bardella is embraced by far-right leader Marine Le Pen at a rally in Lievin, northern France, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Show more Show less Advertisement Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn SMS Email Print Copy article link Save PARIS (AP) — A Paris appeals court cleared the way Tuesday for popular far-right leader Marine Le Pen to possibly run for the French presidency next year but said she must wear an electronic bracelet after finding her guilty of embezzling public funds. Le Pen has previously said that campaigning with a bracelet wouldn't be possible. But she now has the option of changing her mind, in light of the verdict that her lawyer described as a partial victory. “It's a good start,” said the lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut. The court ruled that Le Pen had led misuse by her National Rally party of European Parliament funds by paying party staff with money intended for EU parliamentary assistants. She denied any criminal wrongdoing but said t…

France's Le Pen faces pivotal ruling in race for president PARIS &mdash; France's far-right chief Marine Le Pen is bracing for a key verdict on Tuesday that will determine if she can run in next year's presidential elections, when her party has its best chance yet of winning power.

Will Le Pen rise again? French nationalist leader defiant after court's ruling Within hours of a court of appeal confirming a guilty verdict, Marine Le Pen had already launched her presidential campaign.

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Let the news come to you Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more. Explore newsletters Support Local Journalism If you value these stories, please consider subscribing. Subscribe Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen ’s political future is on the line Tuesday as a Paris appeals court rules on her eligibility to stand in the next presidential election. The verdict will be delivered from 1:30 p.m. and could take several hours to read. It could reshape the 2027 contest to replace President Emmanuel Macron if it forces the popular Le Pen out of the picture. The constitution prevents Macron from seeking a third consecutive term. Le Pen, 57, is appealing a March 2025 conviction that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds by paying party staff with money intended for EU parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. The lower court sentenced her to prison time , suspended pending appeal, and imposed a five-year ban on holding elected office. Le Pen has de…

Le Pen sentenced to house arrest: Live updates - POLITICO PARIS — Marine Le Pen’s presidential dream hangs in the balance. An appeals court upheld the French far-right chief’s conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds but, in a twist, may have cleared a path for her to stand in the 2027 election. The three-judge panel that presided over the case sufficiently reduced her five-year electoral ban so that she can technically run — but it also sentenced her to a year of house arrest. In the lead up to today’s verdict, Le Pen had said she would not mount a bid for the Elysée Palace wearing an ankle monitor, as it would be impossible to mount a proper campaign. Follow live updates below.

Marine Le Pen allowed to run in French presidential election - but only with an anklet An appeal court in France has sentenced right-wing populist Marine Le Pen to three years in prison. Two years were suspended for probation, the remaining time she must wear an ankle cuff. #BreakingNews

It's Judgment Day for Marine Le Pen - POLITICO PARIS — Marine Le Pen’s fourth and possibly final bid for the French presidency will likely be decided in a Paris courtroom Tuesday. The 57-year-old veteran of the French far right will find out whether an appeals court will clear the way for her to run in next year’s presidential election — or leave in place a five-year electoral ban that could end the presidential ambitions she has spent more than a decade building toward. Le Pen’s presidential dream has been in limbo ever since last year, when she was found guilty of embezzling funds from the European Parliament by having assistants work for her party, the National Rally, instead of on Parliament-related business. Advertisement She’ll need a three-judge panel to reverse or significantly reduce the ban so she can take part in the race to take over from French President Emmanuel Macron in spring 2027. The ruling will land at a moment when Le Pen has never appeared closer to the presidency after three previous campaigns and two runoff defeats to Macron. But even if she is barred, it remains unclear whether her party’s chances would suffer: National Rally President Jordan Bardella, 30,…

Breaking: French court opens door to Marine Le Pen presidential run after shortening ban The court in Paris upholds Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds but shortens her ban on running for elected office, potentially re-opening a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential race.

A timeline of Marine Le Pen's political career and the rise of the ... French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's political future is on the line as a Paris appeals court rules on her eligibility to stand in the 2027 presidential election PARIS --French far-right leaderMarine Le Pen’s political fate is at stakeTuesday when a Paris appeals court is to rule on whether she maybe barred to runin the 2027 presidential election. If not,Jordan Bardella, her 30-year-old protegeand president of the National Rally party, would replace her on the ballot. Le Pen, 57, has challenged a March 2025 ruling that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds in the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016. The aides allegedly worked for the party instead of doing parliamentary tasks. If convicted again, she could be sentenced to a ban on holding elected office or have to wear an electronic tag — or both — among other options. Here's a look at key milestones in the careers of Le Pen and Bardella, and the transformation of the National Rally party into one of France's major political forces: Marine Le Pen is born on Aug. 5 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west o…

Marine Le Pen: Presidential bid in doubt as court upholds fraud conviction French far-right leader Marine Le Pen saw her conviction for fraud upheld by a Paris appeals court on Tuesday. The court sentenced Le Pen to a three-year jail term, but with two years suspended and one year with an electronic ankle tag. It means Le Pen will be eligible to run in France’s 2027 presidential elections but while wearing an electronic bracelet, something she has said is a no-go.

French court clears way for Marine Le Pen to run in 2027 but under a condition she rejects The verdict declared Le Pen guilty of embezzlement but softened the ban on her holding elected office, putting the ball in her court.

As French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's appeal trial ends, her ... The Associated Press February 11, 2026, 1:12 PM PARIS (AP) — A Paris appeals court set a verdict date of July 7 for Marine Le Pen in her European Union misuse of funds case, a crucial decision that could derail the far-right leader’s presidential bid. The trial ended Wednesday with one question looming above all others — whether Le Pen willbe able to run for presidentnext year. Le Pen, 57, is challenging a March 2025 verdict that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds in the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016. She denies accusations that she was at the center of a fraudulent system meant to siphon off EU funds. Asked by the court whether she’d like to say anything in conclusion, Le Pen declined to speak. She quickly left the courthouse without stopping in front of a crowd of reporters. Here’s why the outcome of the five-week trial may change the course of France’s 2027 presidential election. Le Pen was widely seen as a top contender to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election until a Paris court banned her from holding of…

Marine Le Pen to run for French Presidency despite criminal conviction Marine Le Pen, the far-right French politician, announced Tuesday she is running for president next year.

French court reduces graft sentence for Marine Le Pen Under the appeals verdict, the far-right leader may be able to run for president in 2027, though she would have to wear an ankle monitor. She has previously said she would not stand for election under these conditions.

France's Le Pen says she won't run in 2027 if appeal court ... - Newsday Far-right leader Marine Le Pen walks outside the courtroom during a short break in her appeals trial, in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Credit: AP/Michel Euler By The Associated Press February 26, 2026 Share PARIS — France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen said she won't run for president next year if a Paris appeals court orders her to wear an electronic bracelet over alleged misuse of European Union funds. Le Pen said she hopes the appeals court clears her in key verdict set for July 7 — a ruling that may derail her presidential ambitions. “I know very well that the decision regarding this candidacy isn’t mine to make,” she said Wednesday evening on news broadcaster BFM TV. Le Pen, 57, is challenging a March 2025 verdict that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing EU Parliament funds in the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016 who allegedly worked for the party instead of doing parliamentary tasks. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a ban from elected office or she will have to wear an electronic tag — or both, among other options. Sign up for the Breaking News…

French court clears way for far-right leader Le Pen to run in 2027 but under a condition she rejects <p>PARIS &#8212; A Paris appeals court cleared the way Tuesday for popular far-right leader Marine Le Pen to possibly run for the French presidency next year but said she must wear an electronic bracelet after finding her guilty of embezzling public funds.</p>

Le Pen Appeal Ruling: French Court Decides Political Future Paris Appeals Court to Decide on Marine Le Pen's Presidential Ambitions A Paris appeals court is set to rule on July 7, 2026, on whether to uphold a five-year electoral ban against French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a decision that could reshape the 2027 presidential race and determine the political future of the National Rally (RN) party. Le Pen, 57, was convicted in March 2025 for embezzling European Parliament funds and sentenced to four years in prison (partly suspended) along with a five-year ban from holding elected office. The ban, if confirmed, would prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential election, clearing the path for her 30-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella. Background: The Embezzlement Conviction In March 2025, a French court found Marine Le Pen and eight other RN MEPs guilty of misappropriating over €4 million in European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. The funds, intended for parliamentary assistants, were instead used to pay party staff in France. Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence — one year suspended, three years to be served under house arrest with an electronic bracelet — …

Marine Le Pen appeal verdict: Will the far-right leader be barred from the French presidency? Far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s political fate will be decided on Tuesday when a Paris appeals court rules on whether she is eligible to run in the 2027 presidential elections, a verdict with major implications for France's future. Le Pen is appealing her 2025 conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds to pay employees in her party.

French court clears way for far-right leader Le Pen to run in 2027, with ankle bracelet A French appeal court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzling EU funds but shortened her ban on running for public office, in theory giving a path ​for the far-right ‌leader to run in the 2027 presidential election. The court also sentenced Le Pen to ⁠a three-year jail term: two suspended and one with an electronic ankle tag. She ​is due to give a prime-time TV interview on TF1 at 8pm (1800 GMT), in which ‌she may make an announcement on her political future.

France's Le Pen says will run for president despite fraud conviction French far-right leader Marine Le Pen announced on Tuesday that she will run for president in 2027, after an appeals court shortened her ban on running for office, even as it upheld her conviction for embezzling EU funds to pay party staff. She also said she would ​appeal the conviction. Le ‌Pen immediately launched her campaign website and urged voters to back her, creating an unprecedented situation in France, with a ⁠lead candidate heading to the ballot after a guilty verdict for a public-funds-related offence.

Marine Le Pen launches Presidential campaign amid cheers, boos after ... French far-right leader kicks off her presidential campaign despite her recent conviction, drawing mix reactions from public Soon after the French court eases election ban, Marine Le Pen's announced that she will run the upcoming presidential election, drawing French politics into uncharted territory. French far-right leader was greeted by cheers and boos on Wednesday as she launched her presidential campaign in western France, a day after an appeals court enabled her to run despite confirming her conviction for embezzling EU funds. Le Pen aggressively launched her campaign website and declared on prime-time television, "Tonight, I am a candidate... The French will have the last word." Her team had also launched a campaign website with a picture of her on stage opening her arms out wide, with the slogan: "For France, Revival." As she shook hands in the street market of the small town of La Fleche in the Loire Valley, some jeered "Give the money back!" and "Go to jail!" while others chanted "Marine, President!" - a sign of the tensions that may lie ahead. This comes as the Paris appeals court on Tuesday …