Marine Le Pen has announced she will run for the French presidency in 2027 – a dramatic gamble that came just hours after a Paris appeal court upheld her conviction for embezzling €2.8 million in EU funds and ordered her to wear an electronic tag for a year.
“The campaign begins tonight,” the 57-year-old National Rally leader told TF1 television on Tuesday evening, ending months of speculation that she might hand the candidacy to her party president, Jordan Bardella. “No, there isn’t a scenario in which I might not run. I am here tonight to tell you I am candidate for the 2027 election.”
“Marine Le Pen announces 2027 presidential run and appeal to highest court, hours after conviction and ankle-tag order.”
The Paris Court of Appeals had earlier found Le Pen guilty of orchestrating a fake-jobs scheme between 2004 and 2016, funnelling European Parliament funds meant for assistants into party coffers. While the court shortened a previous five-year ban from elected office to 45 months – with two-thirds suspended and 15 months already served, effectively clearing her to stand – it also sentenced her to three years in prison, with two suspended, and one year under house arrest with an electronic ankle tag.
Le Pen, who has led the anti-immigration party since 2011, had previously suggested she would not run if her movements were restricted. Under the house arrest regime, a magistrate would need to approve any outings, making night-time campaigning impossible. But on Tuesday she announced she would appeal to France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation – a move that suspends the tag order until a verdict, likely early in 2027.
“I consider us innocent of the things we are accused of,” Le Pen said. “The appeal to the Court of Cassation suspends the effects of the judgment, so I will campaign without an electronic ankle bracelet.” She added that the appeal would allow voters “the last word.”
Le Pen’s decision puts an end to months of speculation that Bardella, 30, would take over the candidacy. Opinion polls show Bardella slightly more popular, but party insiders have worried about his limited experience. Le Pen insisted she would campaign alongside Bardella and promised him the role of prime minister if she wins. Bardella did not immediately react, but the pair are due to appear together at a market in the Sarthe region on Wednesday.
Public prosecutors have said they will appeal against the court’s decision to reduce Le Pen’s sentences. The Court of Cassation is likely to take a few months to reach a decision; if it confirms the verdict, Le Pen could find herself wearing a tag as the election campaign enters its most critical phase early next year.
“My hands are clean … I will prove it,” Le Pen told TF1. “Now that my electoral ban is up, I intend to exhaust all legal remedies.” She described her candidacy as the start of “the rebirth of France.”
The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for 18 April 2027, with a runoff on 2 May. Le Pen, who has already contested three presidential elections, currently leads the polls for the first round. Her opponents are likely to seize on the damning language used by the judges, who argued that by using public funds to prop up her party, Le Pen had “violated the trust voters are justified in placing in each of their representatives.”