A French appeals court on Tuesday confirmed the embezzlement conviction of conservative former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen but reduced her ban from public office, clearing the way for a 2027 presidential run while requiring her to wear an ankle monitor for one year.
The Paris Criminal Court had originally convicted Le Pen of embezzlement in 2025, concluding that she and fellow members of the conservative National Rally party diverted millions of euros in European Union funds to pay aides for domestic French political activities. Le Pen maintains her innocence.
Le Pen’s initial sentence included five years of ineligibility from office and five years in prison—two suspended and three under house arrest. Under the French system, the suspended portion serves as a warning, while the three years of house arrest would be enforced. The five-year political ban had blocked her from the 2027 presidential race.
On Tuesday, an appeals court reduced the sentence to three years total, with two suspended and one year of house arrest, according to a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
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National Rally parliamentary group president Marine Le Pen arrives to attend the verdict in the appeal trial of RN former or actual members on charges of embezzlement of European public funds in a case of alleged European Parliament fake jobs at Paris Court of Appeal on July 7, 2026. (Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP via Getty Images)
The court also cut the office-running ban to 45 months, with 30 months suspended. Because the court counted the suspension from the original March 2025 sentencing, Le Pen is eligible to run immediately.
Yet if she launches a presidential campaign, she would do so under house arrest—a scenario she has questioned. “If I’m allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn’t be possible,” she told French media Wednesday.
Le Pen and 11 associates were convicted of multiple public-funds offenses. She was found guilty of misappropriating public funds and complicity in such misappropriation.
“The court found that an organization had been set up to allow the European Parliament to cover the remuneration of parliamentary assistants for National Front (which became Rassemblement National) MEPs, whereas their activities had no connection with the mandate of their MEP and they were actually working for the national political party,” a Paris Court of Appeals press release stated.
French President Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference on July 10, 2025, in London, England. (Leon Neal)
The court said the defendants misappropriated €2.8 million and ordered restitution.
Le Pen acknowledged some EU-paid staff did domestic party work but called it an error rather than a scheme to channel EU money to National Rally.
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French right-wing party National Rallly (RN) president Jordan Bardella (L) and President of National Rally parliamentary group Marine Le Pen hug as they attend a RN party event “La fete champetre” in Lievin, northern France on July 4, 2026. (SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP via Getty Images)
According to The Associated Press, Le Pen went straight from the courthouse to National Rally headquarters to plan the party’s next steps and was expected to speak to the nation Tuesday night.
Her legal team said, “We are considering the decision as a whole. We will issue a further statement. We are partially satisfied,” Reuters reported.
Fox News Digital contacted National Rally and the Paris appeals court for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
