French far-right politician Marine Le Pen has confirmed she will contest the 2027 presidential election despite a court ruling that could require her to wear an electronic monitoring tag for a year.
Speaking during a televised interview on Tuesday evening, the National Rally leader insisted she would not withdraw from the race and vowed to fight the verdict through every available legal channel.
She said her priority was to clear her name while continuing her political campaign.
“I am a candidate for the 2027 election,” she declared, adding that there was no situation in which she intended to step aside.
Appeal Planned After Paris Court Decision
Earlier in the day, a Paris appeals court upheld Le Pen’s conviction over the misuse of European Union funds linked to a long-running fake jobs scheme involving members of her party.
Judges concluded that approximately €2.8 million intended for European Parliament activities had instead been used to pay National Rally staff between 2004 and 2016.
While the court confirmed her guilt, it ruled that she remains eligible to stand in the 2027 presidential election, even if she is required to wear an electronic tag as part of her sentence.
Le Pen announced she would immediately appeal the decision to France’s highest civil court, the Court of Cassation.
Campaign Begins Despite Legal Uncertainty
The announcement marks a decisive end to months of speculation over who would represent the National Rally in the next presidential contest.
Political observers had increasingly suggested that party president Jordan Bardella, 30, could replace Le Pen as the party’s candidate if her legal troubles prevented her from running.
Instead, Le Pen made clear she would personally lead the campaign, saying it would begin immediately with the goal of what she described as the “rebirth of France.”
Prosecutors Also Challenge the Verdict
The legal battle is far from over.
Although Le Pen intends to challenge the ruling before the Court of Cassation, public prosecutors have also indicated they will appeal aspects of the judgment.
The country’s highest court is expected to take several months before issuing its decision.
If it upholds Tuesday’s verdict, Le Pen could be required to wear the electronic monitoring device during the most critical stage of the presidential campaign early next year.
Such a situation could create both practical difficulties and political embarrassment as she seeks to convince voters.
Conviction Revives Long-Running Funding Scandal
The ruling represents the second time Le Pen and several National Rally officials have been found guilty in connection with the misuse of European Parliament funds.
Throughout the case, Le Pen has consistently denied orchestrating any fraudulent scheme. However, she has previously acknowledged that mistakes were made in how parliamentary resources were managed.
The courts concluded that funds allocated for parliamentary assistants were improperly diverted to finance party employees over a 12-year period.
Bardella Remains Central to Party Strategy
Following the court decision, Le Pen spent several hours meeting with Jordan Bardella, legal advisers and senior party officials before appearing on national television.
She praised Bardella as a trusted political partner and dismissed suggestions of any rivalry over the party’s future leadership.
According to Le Pen, the pair have developed a strong working relationship through years of political challenges and intend to continue governing together if they win power.
She said her preferred arrangement would see her serve as president while Bardella takes the role of prime minister, describing their partnership as complementary and united by shared political convictions.
Change of Position on Electronic Monitoring
Le Pen’s latest declaration represents a notable shift from comments she made before the appeal ruling.
Previously, she had suggested she would be unwilling to run for president if forced to campaign while wearing an electronic tag, arguing that such a condition would prevent her from campaigning freely.
Now, despite acknowledging that campaigning under those circumstances would be difficult, she has decided to remain in the race while continuing her legal fight.
Countdown Begins to France’s 2027 Election
France’s presidential election is scheduled to begin with the first round on 18 April 2027, followed by a runoff on 2 May if no candidate secures an outright majority.
As Le Pen’s appeal moves through the Court of Cassation, both her legal future and her presidential ambitions are set to dominate French politics in the months leading up to the vote.
For now, she has made one point unmistakably clear: regardless of the ongoing court proceedings, she intends to seek France’s highest office once again.
