PARIS (AP) – Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right National Rally party, announced that she will not run for president in the upcoming 2027 election if a Paris appeals court mandates that she wear an electronic bracelet due to alleged misuse of European Union funds. This declaration comes as the appeals court is set to deliver a key verdict on this matter on Tuesday.
Le Pen, aged 57, has been challenging a March 2025 ruling where she, alongside other members of her party, was found guilty of misappropriating EU Parliament funds. The allegations pertain to the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016 who purportedly worked for the party instead of fulfilling their parliamentary duties. Should the court find her guilty once more, she faces potential penalties that could include a ban from holding elected office or being required to wear an electronic tag, or even both.
In a recent interview with LCI channel, Le Pen expressed, "If I can be a candidate, I will be a candidate, provided that I am able to campaign." She emphasized that being allowed to run but restricted in her ability to campaign would render her candidacy infeasible. When questioned specifically about the impact of an electronic bracelet on her candidacy, she stated, “Well, of course. I can't be dependent on a judge to authorize me to go hold a campaign rally... or to visit a market.”
Le Pen has firmly denied any accusations of being at the center of a scheme designed to illegally divert EU funds for personal gain. The French electorate will participate in the first round of the presidential election on April 18, 2027, followed by a runoff scheduled for May 2 of the same year.
The earlier ruling from March 2025 described Le Pen as instrumental in a "fraudulent system" utilized by her party to misappropriate €2.9 million (approximately $3.4 million) in European Parliament funds. In light of this ruling, she received a five-year ban from holding public office, in addition to two years of house arrest while wearing an electronic bracelet.
Le Pen indicated her intentions to pursue every possible option for appeal if the court rules against her candidacy. She stated that she could take her case to the Court of Cassation, which reviews whether previous courts have adhered to legal standards without re-evaluating the facts. The Court of Cassation typically requires about six months to review a case and issue a verdict.
If Le Pen is permitted to join the race, she is widely regarded as a significant contender to succeed Emmanuel Macron, the current centrist president, in the next presidential election. However, should her appeal fail, her 30-year-old protégé, Jordan Bardella, is expected to run in her place. Reflecting on their respective roles, Le Pen noted their complementary strengths. "I believe I have a certain experience, but Jordan has an absolutely incredible dynamism; he has the strength and energy of his youth,” she remarked, underscoring their potential collaboration.
