What happened
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, has been found guilty by a Paris court of appeals of diverting European Parliament money. She received a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and one year requiring her to wear an electronic tag. The court's decision, handed down on July 7, 2026, also includes a bar from holding public office, though this will not immediately affect her given the suspended nature of most of the sentence and time already served.
Crucially, the verdict clears the way for Le Pen to run in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, provided she complies with the electronic tag requirement. This outcome has drawn sharp condemnation from political opponents, including Olivier Faure of the Socialists, who argued that a presidential candidate must set an example she failed to meet, and Greens leader Marine Tondelier, who dismissed claims of a judicial conspiracy and noted the leniency shown.
Inside the National Rally, party president Jordan Bardella was reportedly in talks with Le Pen and other leadership members following the verdict, ahead of Le Pen's planned TV interview. Speculation is that Bardella, 30, would become the RN's presidential candidate if Le Pen opts not to run. Former Le Pen ally Bruno Gollnisch, also found guilty, criticized the verdict as a "farce and a political manoeuvre," highlighting the perceived absurdity of being able to run for office while tagged.