A French appeal court has upheld the conviction of far-right leader Marine Le Pen for misusing European Union funds but shortened her ban from seeking elected office, reopening the possibility that she could contest France’s 2027 presidential election.
The court ruled on Tuesday that Le Pen would serve a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, while the remaining year would be served under electronic monitoring with an electronic ankle tag.
The revised judgment replaces the harsher penalties imposed in March 2025, when Le Pen received a five-year ban from holding public office and a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of embezzling more than €4 million in European Parliament funds.
Prosecutors said the funds, which were intended to pay parliamentary assistants, were instead used to finance employees of her far-right National Rally (RN) party. Le Pen has consistently denied wrongdoing and appealed the conviction.
Tuesday’s ruling keeps alive the prospect of a 2027 presidential bid, although it also leaves open the possibility of her protégé, 30-year-old Jordan Bardella, emerging as the National Rally’s presidential candidate if she ultimately decides not to run.
The verdict drew mixed reactions from across France’s political landscape.
Le Pen’s legal team said it was reviewing the judgment in full before issuing a detailed response, adding that it was “partially satisfied” with the court’s decision.
Critics of the National Rally said the ruling exposed what they described as hypocrisy within the party, accusing it of denouncing crime while being convicted of misusing public funds. They also questioned whether Le Pen would stand by earlier suggestions that such legal restrictions could prevent her from campaigning.
Another political opponent argued that the conviction should disqualify Le Pen from continuing to serve in the French National Assembly, saying the guilty verdict undermined her position as a lawmaker.
Goodness Anunobi
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