PARIS (AP) 鈥� French far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she won鈥檛 run for president next year an electronic bracelet over alleged misuse of European Union funds.
The appeals court will deliver its .
Le Pen, 57, has challenged a March 2025 ruling that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing EU Parliament funds in the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016 who allegedly worked for the party instead of doing parliamentary tasks.
If convicted again, she could be sentenced to a ban from elected office or have to wear an electronic tag 鈥� or both 鈥� among other options.
鈥淚f I can be a candidate, I will be a candidate, provided that I am able to campaign,鈥� Le Pen said in an interview with LCI channel late Wednesday. 鈥淏ecause if I鈥檓 allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn鈥檛 be possible.鈥�
Asked specifically whether an electronic bracelet would be the main obstacle, she replied: 鈥淲ell, of course. I can鈥檛 be dependent on a judge to authorize me to go hold a campaign rally … or to visit a market.鈥�
Le Pen has denied accusations that she was at the center of a fraudulent system meant to siphon off EU funds.
France will hold the first round of its next presidential election on April 18, with a runoff set for May 2.
In March 2025, a Paris court ruled that Le Pen was at the heart of 鈥渁 fraudulent system鈥� that her party used to siphon off European Parliament funds worth 2.9 million euros ($3.4 million). She was given a and two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
鈥淚f I cannot be a candidate, I will make use of every available avenue of appeal,鈥� Le Pen said. She could go to the Court of Cassation, which doesn鈥檛 judge the facts but checks whether the courts and courts of appeal have respected the law. The Court of Cassation could take about six months to hear the case and issue a verdict.
If allowed to run, Le Pen is widely seen as a top contender to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election. If not, her 30-year-old protege Jordan Bardella would likely run instead.
Asked about their differences, Le Pen said she is the natural candidate of her camp after three previous presidential bids.
鈥淲e are complementary. I believe I have a certain experience, but Jordan has an absolutely incredible dynamism; he has the strength and energy of his youth,鈥� she said.
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