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Le Pen to run for French presidency next year despite court-ordered monitor
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election despite being sentenced to wear an electronic monitor for embezzlement, a ruling she plans to appeal to France’s highest court, which will suspend the sentence during the appeal process.
- The appeals court upheld Le Pen’s guilty verdict for misuse of European Parliament funds but reduced her ban from seeking public office from five years to 45 months, with two-thirds suspended, effectively allowing her to run again.
- Le Pen’s prison sentence was also reduced from four years (two suspended) to three years with two suspended, and details about the electronic monitoring conditions remain pending a judge’s decision.
- The court emphasized the importance of the democratic principle of freedom to stand for election, noting Le Pen’s 15-month ban has sufficiently addressed harm to public integrity, allowing her to remain a candidate.
- Le Pen’s National Rally party, which has grown in popularity under her leadership, faces a potential leadership choice between her and her protege Jordan Bardella for the upcoming election.
