Marine Le Pen’s Embezzlement Conviction Upheld

On Tuesday, France’s appeals court maintained the embezzlement conviction of the conservative former presidential hopeful, Marine Le Pen. However, they shortened her disqualification period and instructed her to wear an ankle monitor for a year, allowing her the possibility to run for president in 2027.

A Paris criminal court had previously found Le Pen and several other figures from the conservative National Assembly guilty in 2025 for misusing millions intended for EU funds to pay political aides in France. Le Pen has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Initially, she faced a five-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and three under house arrest. In France’s legal system, a two-year suspension serves as a warning. While she will still undergo three years of house arrest, an appeal recently modified her sentence to three years, with two years suspended and the remaining one under house arrest.

The court also reduced her ban from holding political office to 45 months, of which 30 are classified as suspended. Since this suspension was effective from the initial judgment in March 2025, this latest decision means Le Pen can potentially run right away.

On the other hand, if she chooses to pursue the presidency, she will need to do so while under house arrest—something she has expressed skepticism about. “I think you understand that if I was allowed to be a candidate, but my free campaigning was effectively prevented, that would not be possible,” she remarked, addressing the media.

Le Pen, along with 11 others, was convicted on charges related to public fund misuse. Ultimately, she was found guilty of misappropriation of public funds and conspiracy to misappropriate funds.

A statement from the Paris Court of Appeal explained that the court determined a scheme had been established that enabled the European Parliament to finance the salaries of parliamentary assistants for National Front (now Rassemblement National) members, even though these activities were unrelated to their official duties and supported the national political party instead.

The release claimed that the defendants embezzled €2.8 million and mandated them to reimburse this sum.

Le Pen acknowledged that some staff supported by EU funds were assigned tasks in France but insisted it was merely a mistake—not a deliberate effort to divert EU resources to her assembly, contrary to allegations.

Reportedly, following the court ruling, Le Pen went straight to National Assembly headquarters to discuss the party’s future. She is expected to issue a statement to the public later tonight, according to her legal team. “We are considering this decision in its entirety. We will make a further statement. We are partially satisfied,” they noted.