Marine Le Pen said she will run for the French presidency despite being ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor [1, 2].
The announcement places the leader of the far-right National Rally party at the center of a legal and political battle as France prepares for its next presidential election. The outcome of the court's decision determines whether Le Pen can actively campaign while under state supervision.
Le Pen, 57, spoke to TF1 on French television regarding the decision [1, 3]. A Paris appeals court upheld her conviction for the misuse of European Union funds [1, 4]. While the court confirmed the conviction, it suspended two of the three years of her prison term [1].
This suspension allows Le Pen to avoid immediate incarceration, but the court imposed a condition of electronic monitoring [1, 2]. The monitoring tag is required for a period of one year [1].
Reports on the timing of the election vary. Some sources said Le Pen will run in the 2027 election [1], while other reports indicate she intends to run next year [2].
Le Pen's response to the monitoring condition has been described inconsistently across reports. Some sources said she rejects the requirement [1], while others said she will run even while wearing the ankle monitor [5].
“Marine Le Pen announced she will run for the French presidency despite being ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor.”
This development creates a rare precedent where a major presidential candidate may campaign while under active judicial supervision. The suspension of the prison sentence ensures Le Pen remains a viable political contender, but the requirement of an ankle monitor serves as a visible reminder of her legal convictions during the election cycle.
