France's Le Pen confirms 2027 presidential bid after conviction upheld

France's far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen confirmed on Tuesday she will run for the presidency in 2027 after an appeal court upheld her embezzlement conviction but ruled she could remain eligible to stand.

Appeal court verdict

Earlier on Tuesday, a Paris appeal court found Le Pen guilty of misusing €2.8 million ($3.2 million) in EU funds in a fake jobs scheme. The court sentenced her to three years in prison, with one year to be served under house arrest with an electronic tag, but ruled that she could stand in the 2027 presidential election while serving that sentence.

Speaking to French broadcaster TF1 hours after the ruling, Le Pen said she would appeal to France's highest civil court, the Court of Cassation, while insisting she intended to continue her political campaign. "I can't campaign with a tag," she told the broadcaster. "I want to pursue all legal avenues to defend my innocence in this case."

Presidential race

The decision ends months of speculation over whether Le Pen would step aside in favor of Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of her National Rally party. Asked whether there was any scenario in which she would not run for the presidency, Le Pen replied: "No, there isn't. I am here tonight to tell you I am a candidate for the 2027 elections."