Marine Le Pen can enter the race to become France's next president after judges confirmed her embezzlement conviction on appeal but handed her a reprieve on an election ban.
Presiding Judge Michèle Agi confirmed Le Pen’s conviction, saying that she and several others at the National Rally party misused European Union funds earmarked to pay for aides.
But the appellate judges reduced her ban to 15 months, thus paving the way for her to lead her party into the next election.
“The court found that the enforcement of this penalty since March 31, 2025, has already remedied the breach of integrity to an extent compatible with the fundamental guarantees afforded to citizens, and that disregarding this would undermine the principle of freedom of candidacy, an essential condition for the democratic exercise of universal suffrage,” Judge Agi said in court.
Le Pen was initially convicted in March 2025 by first-instance judges, who gave her an election ban lasting five years and a two-year jail term that’s on hold while she appeals.
Her party was quick to react, with Bardella quipping on TV against what he described as the “tyranny of judges.”
Jordan Bardella, whom she has groomed as her chosen successor for years, is ready to take her spot as the lead candidate for the National Rally.
The 30-year-old would offer voters a somewhat different profile to Le Pen who has gained ground among voters in three successive presidential campaigns.
A recent poll suggested that either would lead the French election after a first round vote.
French bond yields are up modestly after the news, but were already higher before the decision...
For now, prediction markets show Le Pen's odds of victory improving modestly from an admittedly low level, while Bardella, has consolidated his position as favorite to win...
While Le Pen can still lodge a top court challenge, she has promised to announce whether she’ll run or not after this ruling.
Still, the court gave Le Pen a one-year jail sentence that it indicated she would likely serve with an electronic tag, for at least a portion of the term, and she has indicated she would likely withdraw if she was forced to wear the bracelet during the campaign.
The decision now rests with Len Pen as to her future - she is scheduled to speak in a television interview at 8 p.m. local time.