Marine Le Pen announced that she will run for president in the 2027 election, although yesterday she had suggested that she would not because of her sentence requiring her to wear an electronic ankle monitor for one year. She also said she would file an appeal.
She was found guilty of playing a central role in the embezzlement of more than €2.8 million in European Parliament funds and diverting the money to her party between 2004 and 2016.
The total sentence handed down yesterday by the Court of Appeal was three years in prison (reduced from four years) — two years suspended and one year under electronic monitoring — along with a ban from holding public office, reduced from five years to 45 months.
Under the original ban from holding public office, Le Pen would not have been able to run for president. Following the reduced sentence, she is now eligible to do so.
Under France’s system of home detention, a judge may authorize the hours during which a person wearing an electronic ankle monitor may leave their home, while travel throughout the country must receive prior approval.
“I believe we are innocent of the charges against us,” she said, adding that she believes this will allow her to campaign freely ahead of the two-round presidential election in April and May, even if the court issues a final ruling before then.
“An appeal before the Court of Cassation suspends the effects of the ruling, so I will campaign without an electronic ankle monitor on my ankle,” she said.
Source: Guardian
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