Marine Le Pen presses 2027 bid while appealing conviction

Marine Le Pen is pressing ahead with her 2027 French presidential campaign while challenging an embezzlement conviction before France's highest court.

Le Pen, the leading figure in the far-right National Rally, has run for president three times and twice reached the second-round runoff. She launched her campaign hours after being sentenced on appeal to a 15-month ban from office, already served, and a one-year term to be served under electronic monitoring.

Her appeal to the Court of Cassation suspends enforcement of the sentence and means she is again presumed innocent, allowing her to campaign freely for now. The court said on July 8 that it could deliver its ruling by early April next year at the latest. The first round of the presidential election is set for April 18.

If the Court of Cassation rejects the appeal, the conviction would become final and the sentence enforceable, making it possible that Le Pen would have to wear an electronic tag while campaigning.

Le Pen is running with 30-year-old National Rally leader Jordan Bardella on a ticket under which he would be named prime minister if she wins.

Polling analysts quoted in the item said Le Pen's core voters may remain loyal, but the conviction could matter to voters beyond that base. Former prime minister Edouard Philippe, a declared centre-right presidential candidate, said the case confronted Le Pen with her conscience and that he hoped she would explain herself to French voters.