Le Pen Announces 2027 Presidential Bid After Court Ruling Allows Campaign Without Electronic Tag

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally, has announced her intention to run in the 2027 presidential election. The declaration came in an interview with broadcaster TF1 after an appeals court ruled on Tuesday that she could campaign without an electronic ankle tag, provided she agreed to wear one. Le Pen had previously stated she would not stand if forced to campaign while wearing such a device.

"I had indicated that I would not campaign while wearing an electronic tag. But since I have the option of appealing … and the government is suspending the effects of the ruling, I will therefore campaign without an electronic tag," Le Pen told TF1. "So tonight, I am a candidate in the presidential election."

The appeals court reduced a ban on Le Pen holding elected office to 45 months, with 30 months suspended. The remaining 15 months are expected to be backdated from the initial verdict issued by a lower court in March last year. That lower court had sentenced the 57-year-old politician to a five-year ban from public office and two years in prison for her role in a fake jobs scheme at the European Parliament. The earlier ruling would have disqualified her from the 2027 election.

Le Pen's announcement sets the stage for a potential contest with President Emmanuel Macron, who has not yet officially declared his candidacy.