A Paris appeals court has sentenced far-right French leader Marine Le Pen to a reduced prison term and temporarily barred her from running for office, a decision that casts uncertainty over her long-anticipated bid for the presidency, according to Austrian Press Agency.
The court ruled that Le Pen must serve one year under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor, while an additional two years of her three-year sentence have been suspended. She is also banned from standing in elections for 15 months, with another 30 months suspended. The court noted that a large part of the penalty has effectively already been served, as similar restrictions have been in place since March 2025.
Despite this, the ruling complicates Le Pen’s chances of running in France’s next presidential election, scheduled for April. Although her ineligibility period may technically end before the first round, legal uncertainty remains. If either side appeals to the Court of Cassation, the ruling would not be final, and earlier, stricter penalties could potentially come back into force.
There are also practical obstacles. Wearing an electronic tag would limit Le Pen’s movements, making a traditional nationwide campaign difficult. She has previously indicated that such conditions would prevent her from running, though her final decision is still awaited.
The verdict marks a serious blow to Le Pen, who has long denied wrongdoing. In addition to the sentence, she faces a fine of 100,000 euros. The case centers on allegations that European Parliament funds were misused between 2004 and 2016 to pay assistants who were, in reality, working for her party rather than in parliamentary roles. The court described the violations as serious, emphasizing Le Pen’s responsibility as a party leader.
If Le Pen steps aside, her political protégé, 30-year-old Jordan Bardella, is expected to take her place. Recent polls suggest he has slightly surpassed her in popularity, though analysts believe Le Pen remains the more formidable opponent.
The decision leaves France’s political landscape unsettled. Whether Le Pen frames herself as a victim of the justice system or withdraws from the race altogether, the ruling is likely to shape both her future and the direction of the far-right movement in France.
