French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen cleared to run in 2027 election
Le Pen is now eligible to run in the forthcoming election, but would have to do so wearing an electronic tag, something she has previously ruled out.
Updated on: July 7, 2026 / 9:08 AM EDT / CBS News
Marine Le Pen has been cleared to stand in the French presidency in the 2027 election, despite an appeals court upholding a 2025 embezzlement conviction against her . But she can only do so wearing an electronic tag — something she previously said was "not possible."
She was originally sentenced last year to five years of ineligibility to run in presidential elections, but the appeals court reduced that time to 45 months, with 30 suspended and 15 to be served. She has already been ineligible for the period of time required under the revised sentence, making her eligible to run in the April 2027 national election.
Le Pen did not immediately voice her intentions for the election. She was expected to speak at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday (2 p.m. Eastern).
Her National Rally party, previously known as the National Front, was found guilty in 2025 of embezzling European Union funds to pay staff members between 2004 and 2016.
She was also ordered last year to pay more than $100,000 in fines and to serve four years in prison, two of which were suspended and two of which would be served under house arrest with Le Pen wearing an electronic tracking tag.