Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to house arrest and a four-year electoral ban for mishandling EU funds.
An appeals court has upheld the French politician's conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds, but may have cleared the way for her to run in the 2027 election.
This comes after the right-wing leader, her party the National Rally and 23 co-defendants were found guilty of embezzling money in March 2025, stemming from an institutional complaint dating back more than a decade.
The court ruled she is eligible to run in next year's presidential election, by reducing her ban on running in a public office to just 15 more months.
However, the court has made this reality difficult for Ms Le Pen, as it has ordered her to wear an electronic tag for a year - something which she said repeatedly she will not do.
It is understood senior National Rally party members have attempted to persuade her to run anyway, but she has refused, so far.
Ms Le Pen has transformed the right-wing party from a controversial, fringe political movement to the largest single part in the French Parliament.
The 2027 elections would have been her fourth attempt at the presidency.
Marine Le Pen at court today | GETTY However, her protege Jordan Bardella is polling higher than Ms Le Pen, so it is understood he will likely run at National Rally's leader in the election next year.
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