The question remains: will she run?
French appeal judges have upheld a conviction against Marine Le Pen sentencing her to 15-month ban from office but not ruling her out from running in presidential elections next year.
Le Pen, 57, had appealed a 31 March, 2025 conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds in the long-running case over the National Rally’s use of parliamentary assistants.
The Paris court of first instance had imposed an immediate five-year ban from holding public office, preventing her from standing in the April 2027 presidential election, even while her appeal was pending. She was also sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended, and fined €100,000.
In a much anticipated ruling, judges on the Paris Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that Le Pen remained guilty and sentenced her to 45 months of ineligibility for office. But considering that she has already served 30 months she only has 15 months remaining, allowing her to theoretically to register a presidential bid.
