France: Le Pen to decide on presidential run tonight under court order for electronic bracelet

Marine Le Pen faces a unique challenge in her potential bid for the 2027 French presidency after a Paris appeals court upheld her conviction for embezzling European funds. While the court reduced her sentence, it imposed an unprecedented condition: she must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet throughout her presidential campaign.

Le Pen and her party are currently convening at their Paris headquarters to deliberate on their next course of action, with legal counsel present. A public statement is anticipated this evening at 9 p.m. during an interview on the private channel TF1, where she is expected to announce her intentions regarding the presidential race.

Sources suggest the judges may have set a deliberate "trap" for Le Pen. She had previously accused the French judiciary of attempting to obstruct her path to the presidency. The court's decision effectively states she can run for office, but under strict surveillance.

The terms of the one-year sentence, including the electronic monitoring, will be fully disclosed later, pending a review by the Court of Cassation. It remains unclear whether Le Pen will personally run or if Jordan Bardella, the current party president, will be her chosen "joker."