The decision in Le Pen's appeal against last year's verdict for misuse of EU funds came unexpectedly quickly on Tuesday afternoon.
The new ruling means a ban on holding public office for 45 months, 30 of which are conditional. This means that she can in principle run in the presidential election in April 2027.
But since she is also sentenced to three years in prison, two of which are suspended and the third is to be served under electronic monitoring - in practice with an ankle bracelet - the chances of her actually being able to run are considered small.
TV interview tonight
As recently as last week, Le Pen was clear that she did not see any point in running if she were to be limited.
"When you are a presidential candidate, you must have total freedom of movement, not be dependent on a judge to get permission to go to a meeting in Romorantin or to a market in Hénin-Beaumont," Le Pen said in a radio interview.
She has not yet given any fresh comments on the new ruling. Instead, she has gone to the National Rally party headquarters in Paris to meet with party leader Jordan Bardella, who is seen as the party's natural candidate if Le Pen does not run.
Tonight she is also expected to appear on the television channel TF1 at 8 p.m. to talk about her plans for the future.
“Steal money”
The verdict against Le Pen and a long line of party colleagues concerned the improper use of money received from the European Parliament to pay assistants.
The court has repeatedly stressed the seriousness of the defendants' actions. They embezzled and stole European taxpayers' money, said Parliament lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve, shortly after Marine Le Pen was convicted by the appeals court.
Marine Le Pen succeeded her father Jean-Marie as party leader in 2011 and has run in three previous presidential elections. She came third in 2012 and lost in both 2017 and 2022 in decisive rounds of elections against incumbent President Emmanuel Macron.
