- Court ruling gives Marine Le Pen a legal reprieve, allowing her to run for president despite a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds, with her ineligibility set to expire before the April 2027 election.
- Le Pen has designated Jordan Bardella as her No. 2, stating they will run as a joint ticket, with Bardella expected to be appointed as prime minister if she wins.
- Facing angry voters in La Flèche, Le Pen and Bardella were met with boos and placards criticizing her legal troubles, yet some supporters chanted for her as she declared their joint entry into the presidential campaign.
- The court ruling has temporarily suspended Le Pen's sentence, allowing her to campaign while wearing an electronic monitoring tag, which could restrict her campaigning hours.
- Despite her legal issues, Le Pen remains a frontrunner in the presidential race, benefiting from a crisis of trust in mainstream politics and the failures of Emmanuel Macron's presidency.
Marine Le Pen, buoyed by a recent court ruling that reduced her legal penalties, has declared her candidacy for the presidency, positioning Jordan Bardella as her future prime minister.1278
“We’re both entering this presidential campaign,” Le Pen stated in La Flèche, emphasizing their joint ticket despite the complexities of French electoral law.
The court's decision allowed her to appeal a one-year house arrest sentence for embezzling European Parliament funds, which could have barred her from running.
“The court has restored my eligibility. I am innocent,” she asserted, while Bardella expressed his support, stating, “We will continue to work hand in hand, as we always have.”
However, their campaign launch was met with protests, as they faced angry voters in La Flèche, where placards reading “Le Pen convicted” were displayed.56
Polls indicate that while 51% of respondents support her candidacy, 42% view her legal troubles as a handicap. Bardella remains more popular within the party, with 76% favorability compared to Le Pen's 61%.
Political analysts warn that winning the presidency will require Le Pen to overcome her convictions and the potential stigma of campaigning with an electronic monitoring tag.
“Will Marine Le Pen be seen, first and foremost, as having been convicted... or will she regain momentum?” asked Bernard Sananes, a political analyst.
The stakes are high as Le Pen seeks to capitalize on Bardella's popularity while navigating a divided electorate.
“Le Pen's appeal to France's highest court temporarily suspends the sentence requiring her to wear an electronic tag. Meanwhile, an Odoxa-Backbone poll for Le Figaro shows 51% support her candidacy, though 76% of National Rally members favor Bardella.”
politico.eu
The Guardian
