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French court shortens Le Pen's ban from office but orders electronic tag

By Reuters Reuters
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, member of parliament for the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party, arrives to attend the verdict in her appeal trial, alongside the RN party itself and 10 others defendants found guilty of diverting European Parliament funds, at the Paris courthouse on the Ile de la Cite, in Paris, France, July 7, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, member of parliament for the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party, arrives to attend the verdict in her appeal trial, alongside the RN party itself and 10 others defendants found guilty of diverting European Parliament funds, at the Paris courthouse on the Ile de la Cite, in Paris, France, July 7, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Sarah Meyssonnier Reuters

PARIS - A French appeals court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds but shortened her ban on running for elected office, potentially re-opening a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential race.

However, the court ruled Le Pen serve a three-year jail term. Although the court said two years were suspended, it ordered her to wear an electronic ankle tag for one year, making a presidential campaign politically and logistically difficult.

The ruling casts fresh doubt on whether she will seek France's highest office next year.

(Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Richard Lough and Makini Brice)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 8:10 AM.

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