A French appeals court upheld the embezzlement conviction for conservative former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen on Tuesday, but shortened a ban on her running for elected office, clearing her path to run for president in 2027, albeit mandating she wear an ankle monitor for a year.
The ruling also shortened her ban from running for office to 45 months, 30 of which are considered to be suspended. Given that the court considered her suspension active starting from initial sentencing in March 2025, the ruling means Le Pen is eligible to run for office effective immediately.
However, if she were to decide on a presidential run, she would have to do so while serving the house arrest sentence, a prospect she has already cast doubt on.
"If I'm allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn't be possible," she told French media Wednesday.
Le Pen, along with 11 other associates, were found guilty of a litany of crimes related to the misuse of public funds. Le Pen herself was found guilty on charges of misappropriating public funds and complicity in the misappropriation of public funds.
"The court found that an organization had been set up to allow the European Parliament to cover the remuneration of parliamentary assistants for National Front (which became Rassemblement National) MEPs, whereas their activities had no connection with the mandate of their MEP and they were actually working for the national political party," a press release from the Paris Court of Appeals read.
The release claimed the defendants misappropriated €2.8 million, which the court ordered them to pay back in restitution.
Le Pen, for her part, admitted that some staff paid as EU staffers were relegated to domestic French work, but she claimed it was simply a mistake and not, as alleged, part of a scheme to divert E.U. funds to her National Rally party.
Le Pen, according to The Associated Press, immediately went from the courthouse to National Rally headquarters to strategize the party's future plans. She is expected to address the country in a news conference or interview Tuesday night.
Her legal team at the courthouse said, "We are considering the decision as a whole. We will issue a further statement. We are partially satisfied," according to Reuters.
Fox News Digital contacted representatives for National Rally and the Paris appeals court for further comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.