Far‑right politician Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy for the 2027 French presidential elections on Tuesday, after the Paris Court of Appeal reduced her disqualification from 60 to 45 months, opening the electoral path despite her conviction for embezzlement of European Parliament funds, according to Le Pen’s televised statement.
The court justified the reduction by citing proportionality and voter freedom of choice, noting that maintaining the disqualification would violate the principle of freedom to stand for election. In the first trial, Le Pen, 24 other former deputies, and the party were found guilty of using European funds to hire RN staff. Le Pen called the process a “witch hunt,” while the prosecution maintains she professionalized a scheme initiated by her father.
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Le Pen, who has run unsuccessfully three times, said she would appeal to the Supreme Court to exhaust all legal avenues and defend her alleged innocence. She stressed she would not campaign with an electronic bracelet, arguing that the French house arrest system requiring judicial authorization to leave home would prevent her from mobilizing nationwide.
Marine Le Pen, the far-right French politician announced on Tuesday she is running for president next year after a court shortened her election ban. Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement, ordered to wear a tracking bracelet and banned from running for office for five years. pic.twitter.com/h9GWAJHM7G
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She further announced Bardella would be her prime minister if she reaches the Élysée. Asked about a potential adverse Supreme Court ruling, she replied, “The French will be the judges.” Polls suggest the far right will lead the first round but are divided on the runoff, with one May poll indicating she could win the second round, though other projections favor Édouard Philippe. Le Pen said she and Bardella will start the campaign very soon.
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