French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has stated that she will not run for president next year if a Paris appeals court orders her to wear an electronic tag. The court is due to issue its verdict on Tuesday, regarding a March 2025 ruling that found her and other National Rally members guilty of misusing EU Parliament funds. The allegations involve hiring aides between 2004 and 2016 who purportedly worked for the party instead of carrying out parliamentary tasks. Ms Le Pen, 57, has denied accusations that she was at the center of a fraudulent system meant to siphon off EU funds. If convicted again, she could face a ban from elected office, an electronic tag, or both.
In an interview with LCI channel late Wednesday, Le Pen said that if she is allowed to be a candidate but is effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then it wouldn’t be possible for her to run. Le Pen specifically mentioned that an electronic bracelet would be the main obstacle, stating that she cannot be dependent on a judge to authorize her to hold a campaign rally or visit a market. In March 2025, a Paris court ruled that Le Pen was at the heart of “a fraudulent system” that her party used to siphon off European Parliament funds worth 2.9 million euros ($3.4 million), and she was given a five-year ban from holding elected office and two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
However, Le Pen is currently challenging this ruling in the appeals court. France will hold the first round of its next presidential election on April 18, with a runoff set for May 2. If allowed to run, Le Pen is widely seen as a top contender to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election.
If not, her 30-year-old protege Jordan Bardella would likely run instead. Le Pen believes she is the natural candidate of her camp after three previous presidential bids, citing her experience and Bardella’s dynamism and energy. Le Pen has stated that if she cannot be a candidate, she will make use of every available avenue of appeal, including going to the Court of Cassation, which could take about six months to hear the case and issue a verdict.
