The Paris Appeals Court on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, sentenced National Rally leader Marine Le Pen to one year in prison under electronic monitoring for embezzling European Parliament funds.
The court reduced her ineligibility period to 45 months, with 30 months suspended.
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The remaining 15-month firm ban was deemed already served, potentially clearing her path for the 2027 presidential election.
However, the ruling requires Le Pen to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet during part of her campaign, a condition she previously stated she would not accept.
The National Rally party itself faced a 2 million euro fine, while Perpignan Mayor Louis Aliot received a one-year prison sentence and a two-year ineligibility period.
Political Reactions
François Ruffin, Debout!
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MP for Somme, stated that the decision forces Le Pen to choose whether to campaign under judicial restrictions or stick to her previous principles regarding life-long ineligibility.
Boris Vallaud, head of the Socialist deputies, called Le Pen a "delinquent" and questioned the propriety of a convicted individual running for public office.
Marine Tondelier, National Secretary of the Ecologists, argued that Le Pen received preferential treatment compared to ordinary citizens and that the electronic bracelet restrictions conflict with a presidential run.
President Emmanuel Macron, speaking during an official visit to Syria, declined to comment on the judicial outcome, stating it is healthy for democracy that the president does not comment on court decisions.
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Le Pen is expected to announce her official decision regarding her candidacy during the 20 Heures news program on TF1.
