Marine Le Pen to run for French Presidency despite embezzlement conviction and electronic tag

French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen has announced she will run for the presidency in 2027, vowing to appeal her embezzlement conviction to France's highest court.

French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen has announced she will run for the presidency in 2027, vowing to appeal her embezzlement conviction to France’s highest court. The National Rally leader, who was found guilty of misusing €2.8 million in EU funds in a fake jobs scheme, was sentenced to wear an electronic tag for one year, though the court ruled she could still stand for office.

“I can’t campaign with a tag,” Le Pen told French TV in a combative primetime interview. “I want to pursue all legal avenues to defend my innocence in this case.” She confirmed her candidacy, saying: “No, there isn’t” a scenario in which she might not run. “I am here tonight to tell you I am candidate for the 2027 elections. I will not change my mind.”

The decision puts an end to months of speculation that Le Pen would hand the candidacy to the 30-year-old president of her party, Jordan Bardella. She stated that if elected, she and Bardella would work together she as president and he as prime minister. “We have a solid partnership, we complement each other,” she said.

Le Pen will now take her case to France’s top civil court, the Court of Cassation, which is likely to take a few months to reach a decision. Public prosecutors have also said they will appeal. If the court confirms the verdict, Le Pen could find herself having to wear the electronic tag as the election campaign moves into its most important period early next year, risking becoming an embarrassment and a handicap.

When asked what would happen if her appeal did not succeed, Le Pen said: “We will see, and the French will be the judge, because the good news from this evening is they will be free to choose.” In the hours after the verdict, Le Pen was locked in talks with Bardella and her legal team before driving to the TF1 studios to announce her decision. She said the tests they have gone through “have made us stronger, both in will and in the quality of our work together.” Her campaign is set to begin immediately as she seeks to lead the National Rally to electoral success in 2027.