Marine Le Pen has officially launched her campaign for the 2027 French presidential election, declaring that she will continue her legal battle after an appeal court upheld her embezzlement conviction but allowed her to remain eligible for office while appealing to France’s highest court.
The announcement marks a dramatic turning point in French politics, ending months of speculation over whether the longtime leader of the National Rally (RN) would step aside in favor of party president Jordan Bardella. Instead, Le Pen made it clear she intends to remain at the center of the far-right movement’s push for power.
“The campaign begins tonight”
Speaking during a primetime television interview on Tuesday evening, Le Pen confirmed she would seek the presidency in 2027 despite the legal challenges surrounding her conviction.
“The campaign begins tonight,” she declared, adding that she would pursue “all legal avenues” to prove her innocence by appealing to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest civil court.
Her appeal automatically suspends the requirement that she wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while the case is under review, a process expected to conclude in early 2027—just months before French voters head to the polls.
Le Pen insisted there was no scenario in which she would withdraw from the race, saying her goal is to “begin the rebirth of France.”
Court upholds conviction
Earlier in the day, a Paris appeals court reaffirmed that Le Pen and several National Rally officials had misused approximately €2.8 million in European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016.
According to prosecutors, money intended for parliamentary assistants was instead used to pay party employees working for National Rally.
Although the conviction was upheld, the court reduced some aspects of her sentence and ruled that she remains eligible to run for president while her appeal continues.
Public prosecutors have announced they will also appeal the reduced sentence, adding another layer of legal uncertainty ahead of the 2027 election.
Jordan Bardella remains key ally
Le Pen’s decision effectively ends speculation that Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of National Rally, would replace her as the party’s presidential candidate.
Instead, Le Pen outlined a joint vision for governing France, saying she would serve as president while Bardella would become prime minister if the party wins power.
She described their relationship as a complementary partnership strengthened through years of political challenges.
“The tests we have gone through have made us stronger,” she said, emphasizing that the movement’s goals extend beyond any single individual.
The two politicians are expected to continue campaigning together as National Rally seeks to capitalize on growing support ahead of the election.
Political opponents criticize decision
Le Pen’s announcement quickly drew criticism from across the French political spectrum.
Opponents argued that seeking the presidency while convicted of embezzlement raises serious ethical questions and could further erode public trust in political institutions.
Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said there is a “moral dimension” to running for the nation’s highest office while carrying a criminal conviction involving public funds.
Le Pen dismissed the criticism, maintaining that she remains innocent and insisting French voters—not political rivals—should ultimately decide her future.
A defining election approaches
France’s presidential election is scheduled for April and May 2027, and polls have consistently placed National Rally among the country’s strongest political forces.
Le Pen has reached the second round of the last two presidential elections but has been defeated each time. The upcoming race could represent her final opportunity to secure the presidency after more than a decade leading France’s largest nationalist party.
However, significant uncertainty remains.
If France’s Court of Cassation ultimately upholds her conviction before the election, Le Pen could find herself campaigning under continued legal restrictions during one of the most closely watched presidential contests in modern French history.
For now, she has made one thing unmistakably clear: despite the legal setbacks, she has no intention of stepping away from the race.
As France moves closer to the 2027 election, Le Pen’s campaign is set to unfold alongside a high-stakes legal battle that could reshape both her political future and the country’s political landscape.
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