Marine Le Pen Announces Candidacy for French Presidential Election in 2027
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has announced she will run in the 2027 presidential election after an appeals court softened a previous ruling that barred her from holding office.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the French right-wing populist party National Rally, announced on the evening of July 7 that she will be a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election, ending uncertainty over her participation in the race.
Le Pen's candidacy was previously hindered by a 2025 conviction for misusing European Parliament funds. The original court ruling banned her from running for elected office for five years, effectively blocking her from the 2027 presidential race.
However, last Tuesday, an appeals court softened the sentence, banning Le Pen from holding elected office for 45 months, with 30 months suspended. The ban is counted from March 31, 2025. This allows the far-right leader to run in the 2027 election. During the campaign, she will have to wear an electronic bracelet, complicating both her image and logistics.
Recent polls suggest the National Rally candidate could win the first round. The second round is less certain: some polls show Le Pen winning the second round as well, while others predict victory for centrist candidate Édouard Philippe.
Le Pen has unsuccessfully run for president in 2012, 2017, and 2022.
