French appeals court clears Le Pen for 2027 presidential election

The Paris Court of Appeal on Tuesday shortened National Rally leader Marine Le Pen's ineligibility ban to 45 months with 30 suspended, clearing the path for her to contest the 2027 French presidential election while she serves her prison sentence under electronic monitoring, according to Le Monde. The court handed down the reduced sentence after finding her guilty of misusing public funds.

The court sentenced Le Pen to three years in prison with two years suspended and one year to be served under electronic surveillance, alongside a €100,000 ($114,407) fine. The National Rally party received a €2 million ($2.2 million) penalty as a legal entity, with €1 million suspended and an additional €1 million ordered confiscated.

Original conviction and misuse of funds

Le Pen was initially sentenced in March to four years in prison — two under house arrest with an electronic tag — alongside a €100,000 fine and a five-year ban from holding public office, according to the original ruling. Investigators had accused the far-right leader of using European Parliament funds to pay four parliamentary assistants who worked for her party rather than performing legislative duties during her tenure as an MEP from 2004 to 2017.

The appeals court determined that Le Pen had already served the 15 months of unsuspended ineligibility since March 31, 2025, rendering her eligible to appear on the ballot for the 2027 contest. She will campaign for the presidency while wearing an electronic bracelet to serve the remaining prison term.