Marine Le Pen, who has led France’s leading nationalist party since 2011, has officially announced her intention to run for the presidency in 2027. This declaration follows a Paris appeal court ruling that found her guilty of misusing €2.8m (£2.4m) in European Union funds as part of a fake jobs scheme. Despite the conviction, the court ruled she could still stand for office, provided she wears an electronic tag for 1 year. Her decision to announce her candidacy comes less than 10 months before the first round of the French presidential elections on 18 April and 2 May 2027.
In a combative primetime interview on TF1 TV, Le Pen stated, “The campaign begins tonight,” and confirmed she would “pursue all legal avenues” to defend her innocence. She plans to take her case to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest civil court. By filing this appeal, the requirement to wear the electronic tag is suspended until the court delivers its final verdict, which is expected early in 2027. Public prosecutors have also indicated they will appeal the decision to reduce the sentences against Le Pen.
Le Pen’s decision to run puts an end to speculation that she might hand the candidacy to Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of her party. In the hours after Tuesday’s court verdict, Le Pen was locked in talks with Bardella, as well as lawyers and party colleagues, before they were driven to the studios for her decision. Le Pen described their working relationship as a “solid partnership” and suggested that if elected, she would serve as president while Bardella would act as prime minister.
The court’s ruling confirmed the initial finding that between 2004-16, Le Pen and other party members embezzled funds meant for European Parliament staff to pay for their own party employees. Le Pen has consistently maintained her innocence, though she previously admitted the scheme was a “mistake.”
The announcement has drawn criticism from political opponents. Othman Nasrou, secretary-general of the Republicans, argued that her candidacy damages public trust in politics, while former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal highlighted the “moral dimension” of running while under a criminal conviction for embezzling public funds. Conversely, another rival, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, noted that while it is her decision to make, she will ultimately have to explain her conviction to the French electorate.
Le Pen remains adamant about her candidacy, stating there is no scenario in which she would withdraw. She noted that if the Court of Cassation upholds the verdict, the resulting requirement to wear an electronic tag would occur during the peak of the campaign. When asked about the possibility of an unfavorable ruling, she remarked that the French people would ultimately be the judge of her suitability for office.
