Marine Le Pen cleared to run for French presidency in 2027 after court ruling

France's Cour d'Appel de Paris confirmed Marine Le Pen's conviction for misuse of public funds but reduced the penalty, allowing her to remain eligible for the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen announced on television that she will be a candidate, stating she will appeal to the Court of Cassation to suspend the sentence and avoid wearing an electronic anklet while campaigning. Her party, Rassemblement National, now leads the opinion polls, and the move displaces Jordan Bardella, who had been positioned as the party's likely successor.

The announcement has forced former prime minister Edouard Philippe to revise his campaign strategy. Philippe's team is now emphasizing Le Pen's fiscal proposals, such as her plan to lower the pension age to 62, and portraying her as economically inconsistent. The French political landscape is reshaping ahead of the February 2027 election as parties adjust to Le Pen's renewed candidacy.