Marine Le Pen convicted but eligible, vows to run for president in 2027

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's National Rally party, has been convicted on appeal for embezzling public funds but has declared she will run for president in 2027. The court upheld her sentence, which includes a one-year electronic monitoring tag, but removed her ineligibility to hold office.

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She is playing with time now. She hopes that Cassation, which always takes several months, will only issue a ruling after the presidential elections are over.

Hours after the verdict, Le Pen announced her presidential bid. She is appealing the decision to the Court of Cassation, arguing that this legal step temporarily suspends the execution of her sentence. This would allow her to campaign without an electronic tag.

France analyst Steven Decraene described Le Pen's move as a calculated gamble. He suggests she is strategically playing for time, hoping the Court of Cassation will not issue a ruling until after the presidential elections. If elected, she could potentially gain immunity and a suspension of her sentence for the duration of her presidency.

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In fact, she is putting the ball back in the court of justice. Now she says: if I go to Cassation, my sentence will be temporarily suspended, my conviction too, and I can therefore campaign without an electronic tag. Then I'll just wait and see what Cassation decides.

Decraene noted that Le Pen is fully utilizing the legal system to her advantage. The question remains whether the Court of Cassation will feel pressured by this maneuver and expedite its review. This unexpected legal and political strategy adds another layer to France's already complex political landscape.

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We have seen a lot in France, but this is once again a very unexpected move.