Marine Le Pen intends to run in France's 2027 presidential election despite a French court upholding her conviction for embezzling EU funds, the far-right leader announced on French TV channel TF1.
"Tonight, I am a candidate for the presidential election," Le Pen told the channel, adding that she would refer her case to France's highest court, the court of cassation. **"**I want to pursue all available avenues of appeal so that I can defend my innocence in this case."
Le Pen made clear that the appeal to the Court of Cassation would seek to overturn the first instance ruling which sentenced her to four years in prison, two of which were commuted to wearing an electronic monitoring device, a ban from running for office for five years and a €100,000 fine.
Le Pen's comments are expected to ease uncertainty over the National Rally leader's political future after a Paris appeals court on Tuesday upheld her 2025 conviction for embezzling EU funds but also allowed her to run in the 2027 presidential election.
On Tuesday, the court handed the three-time presidential candidate three years' imprisonment, including one year to be served “at home under electronic monitoring,” a €100,000 fine and 45 months of disqualification from holding public office, 30 months of which were suspended. Her time wearing the bracelet was cut down to one year.
