French far-right leader Marine Le Pen indicated Wednesday she would forgo a 2027 presidential run if a court sentences her to wear an electronic monitoring device. Le Pen stated on French broadcaster BFM TV that an electronic bracelet or house arrest would make effective campaigning impossible. Her political future now hinges on a Paris appeals court verdict scheduled for July 7.
The Legal Challenge and Its Implications
Le Pen, who leads the National Rally (RN) party in the French parliament, faces a legal battle rooted in the alleged misuse of European Parliament funds. A Paris court ruled in March 2025 that Le Pen was central to a “fraudulent system” that siphoned off €2.9 million. That initial ruling included a five-year ban from public office, a sentence that would automatically disqualify her from the 2027 election if upheld on appeal.
“We can’t campaign under these conditions,” Le Pen told BFM TV. She emphasized the practical barriers: “Campaigning under house arrest is not possible. Can you campaign without going out in the evenings to meet your constituents at rallies?” The potential imposition of an ankle monitor or other forms of electronic tagging would restrict her movement, directly impacting her ability to conduct a traditional presidential campaign.
Defense and Political Ramifications
During her appeal trial, which concluded on February 11, Le Pen acknowledged that some employees paid as EU parliamentary aides performed work for her party. However, she maintained her belief that such work was permissible and denied any attempt to conceal it. “The mistake lies here: there were certainly some aides, on a case-by-case basis, who must have worked either marginally, more substantially, or entirely … for the benefit of the party,” Le Pen stated to the court. She also criticized European Parliament officials for not notifying her party if their hiring practices violated regulations.
Le Pen has previously run for president three times, reaching the second round in both 2017 and 2022, losing to President Emmanuel Macron on both occasions. Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, making the 2027 election widely perceived as Le Pen’s strongest opportunity to secure the presidency. “I know perfectly well that the decision regarding this candidacy isn’t mine to make,” she stated on Wednesday, attributing the decision to the judges.
Background and Future Leadership
The fraud allegations stem from an investigation into how the National Rally party utilized funds designated for parliamentary assistants, suggesting they were instead used for party activities. This type of community supervision via a GPS ankle bracelet is commonly used as an alternative to incarceration, allowing offender tracking while individuals remain in the community, but it imposes significant movement restrictions.
Should Le Pen be unable to run, her protégé and current National Rally president, Jordan Bardella, is positioned as a leading candidate. Le Pen stated that Bardella would determine her role if he were to win the presidency. A November 2025 poll indicated Bardella would win the second round of the 2027 elections regardless of his opponent. The July 7 verdict will therefore shape not only Marine Le Pen’s immediate political trajectory but also the leadership dynamics of France’s far-right movement.
Source: France’s Marine Le Pen will not run in 2027 if court imposes ankle bracelet, she says
