On the 7th, Marina Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Union Party, who is under trial for alleged embezzlement of public funds, announced that she will run in the 2027 presidential election, the ruling came after the Paris Court of Appeal announced its verdict in her embezzlement case.
Marina Le Pen
Le Pen made the announcement on French television channel 1 on Sunday evening. She said she would soon launch a campaign with her partner and, if she wins the 2027 presidential election, she would name him prime minister. “It was a decision le pen made for herself,” said Sebastien Chernu, a member of Parliament for the National Union. “She quickly decided to stand in front of the French because she had the qualifications.”
Le Pen’s conviction was upheld by the Paris Court of Appeal earlier in the day. Le Pen was banned from running for public office for 45 months, including a 30-month suspended sentence. According to the guardian, this means Le Pen will be barred from public office for 15 months, as of last March when a lower court ruled against her. Other analysts believe that since the Paris Court of Appeal did not rule on the immediate execution of the sentence, after Le Pen’s appeal, the execution of the sentence will be suspended until the Supreme Court makes a decision, she is therefore eligible in principle to run in the 2027 presidential election.
France’s BFM TV commented that Le Pen filed an appeal at the same time he announced the presidential election candidate, this is an ambitious bet. Ms Le Pen has run for president three times, reaching a run-off in 2017 and 2022 but losing to Macron. France’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms, making Macron ineligible for re-election after his term ends in 2027. Ms Le Pen’s decision to run has sent shockwaves through France and Europe. According to the Guardian, polls show both Ms Le Pen and Baldera are likely to win the first round of the election, scheduled for April 18 next year.