Marine Le Pen cleared to run for French presidency after appeal cuts ban

A French appeals court on 7 July upheld Marine Le Pen’s conviction for misusing EU funds but reduced her ineligibility period from five years to 45 months, with 30 months suspended. Having already served 15 months, the ruling effectively ends the ban, allowing her to stand in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen announced her candidacy hours after the decision, saying she will not change her mind, even while wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet.

The decision leaves open the possibility of a further appeal to the Court of Cassation, which could either confirm her eligibility or reinstate the original ban. Polls released before the ruling already placed Le Pen as the front‑runner with around 35‑37 % of first‑round voting intentions, a lead of over 20 points on former President Emmanuel Macron’s party. Reactions are mixed: the right‑wing base rallies behind her, while left‑wing parties criticize the prospect of a convicted candidate. The legal uncertainty and her continued campaign under a bracelet are unprecedented in a major French presidential race and could reshape the political landscape if she remains on the ballot.