Marine Le Pen has failed to overturn her conviction for misusing EU funds. On Tuesday afternoon a court in Paris upheld the verdict against her, announced in March 2025, but shortened her disqualification ban from five years to 45 months, 30 of which are suspended. She was also fined €100,000.
Many in France believe that there is a two-tier justice system depending on whether you lean to the left or the right
As she has already served 15 months, Le Pen will in theory be able to stand as the National Rally’s candidate in next April’s presidential election.
But there is a caveat. The court ruled that Le Pen must serve a three-year jail term for what it said was an organised campaign to misappropriate EU funds. Two of the three years are suspended and Le Pen must serve the third wearing an electronic ankle tag.
In an interview last week Le Pen was asked if she would run for the presidency wearing a tag. ‘If the aim is to allow me to stand as a candidate, but in reality to prevent me from campaigning entirely freely, you will understand that this will not be possible,’ she replied.
