French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen has said she will run for the presidency in 2027, and appeal to the country’s highest court against an embezzlement conviction that requires her to wear an electronic tag for a year.
“I can’t campaign with a tag,” the National Rally leader told French TV in a combative primetime interview. “I want to pursue all legal avenues to defend my innocence in this case.”
Hours earlier, a Paris appeal court found her guilty of misusing €2.8m (£2.4m) in EU funds in a fake jobs scheme, but ruled she could stand for the presidency while wearing a tag.
She will now take the case to France’s top civil court, the Court of Cassation.
The decision is a remarkable political gamble – and it puts an end to months of speculation that Le Pen would hand the candidacy to the 30-year-old president of her party, Jordan Bardella.
Public prosecutors have also said they will appeal.
Asked whether there was a scenario in which she might not run, she said: “No, there isn’t. I am here tonight to tell you I am candidate for the 2027 elections.”
She said her campaign would start immediately to “begin the rebirth of France” – and that she would not change her mind.
Although Le Pen continues to maintain her innocence, she and a number of party colleagues have now been found guiltytwice of a scam that she denied organising but did admit earlier to being “a mistake”.
Paris appeal court confirmed the initial ruling that between 2004-16 she and others had embezzled funds meant for members of the European Parliament and had used the money to pay for party staff.
Her decision to announce her candidacy comes less than 10 months before first round of the French presidential elections on 18 April and 2 May 2027.
