Marine Le Pen confirms 2027 french presidential bid after appeal court ruling
Marine Le Pen has confirmed she will stand in France's 2027 presidential election after an appeal court reduced her ban from holding public office.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has confirmed she will stand in the 2027 presidential election after a Paris appeal court reduced her ban from holding public office to 15 months.
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The court upheld Le Pen's conviction for the misuse of European Parliament funds but shortened the original five-year ban imposed by a lower court.
As the period of ineligibility dates from March 2025, it has effectively expired, allowing her to run in next year's election.
Speaking on TF1 shortly after the ruling, Le Pen declared: "Tonight, I am a presidential candidate. I will not change my mind."
She also announced that Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National, would become her prime minister if she wins the presidency.
Le Pen received a one-year sentence to be served under electronic monitoring but said she would appeal to France's highest court, arguing that the appeal suspends the remaining sentence while the case is considered.
The ruling revives Le Pen's hopes of succeeding President Emmanuel Macron, who cannot seek another consecutive term, and is expected to have a major impact on what is shaping up to be one of France's most closely contested presidential elections.