In the small French town of Montargis, Marine Le Pen's decision to launch a presidential bid has stirred both support and skepticism among residents, reflecting deep divisions over her legal troubles and far-right policies.
Jean-Antoine, a 76-year-old retired decorator, welcomed her return.
"Even the judges said she didn't personally profit from the money, it was for her party," he said.
"All politicians in France have always been schemers, it's just a fact of life."
His late father fled Spain's civil war and joined the French resistance, but Jean-Antoine now believes immigration must stop.
He feels voters for the National Rally (RN) will overlook the embezzlement conviction.
Le Pen's conviction last year barred her from office until the 2030s, but appeal judges shortened the ban, allowing her to run in next year's presidential election.
The court upheld her guilt in a €2.8 million fake-jobs scheme but ordered her to wear an electronic tag with a curfew.
She plans to appeal to France's highest court, putting the sentence on hold during her campaign.
Snap polls show Le Pen's popularity high, positioning her strongly for the two-round vote in April and May.
She previously lost to Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and 2022.
Montargis, 75 miles south of Paris, is known for its canals and pralines.
It elected an RN mayor earlier this year, part of a wave where the party tripled its town halls.
"When they won here, I said: 'I don't know if you can do any better but you can't do any worse,'" Jean-Antoine recalled.
"People want change."
An antiques dealer in his 60s, who declined to be named, said: "People will still vote for Le Pen because there's massive pressure for change.
Immigration, benefits, healthcare – none of that works. Her legal case feels unfair; a leftwing politician wouldn't have been treated this way."
Montargis was a site of the gilets jaunes protests and saw unrest in 2023 after police killed Nahel Merzouk.
The RN's gain from the traditional right reflects Le Pen's 15-year effort to detoxify the party's image while maintaining hardline anti-immigration policies.
Divided Perspectives on the Campaign Trail
Gisèle, 84, a retired gymnastics coach, said fear of crime and drug-dealing is rising. She is glad Le Pen is running but believes the conviction could hinder her.
"I think this could put a brake on her," she said.
Le Pen's candidacy means party president Jordan Bardella will not run. Christiane, a chiropodist, expressed disappointment: "Bardella is young, close to the people.
I like Marine Le Pen, but is France really going to elect a president with a conviction?"
Céline, a pharmacist and centrist voter, said: "I don't think it's right to run for president if you have been convicted."
Selma, 48, whose Tunisian grandfather fought for France in WWII, fears Le Pen's campaign is polarizing people.
