Marine Le Pen Confirms 2027 Presidential Candidacy
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has declared her intention to run for the presidency in 2027. Concurrently, she plans to appeal a recent embezzlement conviction to France's highest court, the Court of Cassation. The conviction mandates that she wear an electronic tag for one year.
"I can't campaign with a tag,"Le Pen stated during an interview on French television.
"I want to pursue all legal avenues to defend my innocence in this case."
Details of the Conviction
Earlier on the same day, a Paris appeal court found Le Pen guilty of misusing €2.8 million (£2.4 million) in European Union funds through a fraudulent jobs scheme. Despite the conviction, the court ruled that she could still stand for the presidency while wearing the electronic tag.
Le Pen has decided to challenge this ruling by taking her case to the Court of Cassation, France's top civil court.
Impact on National Rally Leadership and Campaign
This ruling concludes months of speculation regarding whether Le Pen would delegate the presidential candidacy to Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of her National Rally party.
When asked if there was any scenario in which she might not run, Le Pen responded firmly:
"No, there isn't. I am here tonight to tell you I am candidate for the 2027 elections."
Additional Information
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