Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from public office in EU embezzlement case

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from public office in EU embezzlement case
Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from public office in EU embezzlement case
A French ​appeals court on ​July 7 upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds ​but shortened ‌her ban ⁠on running for elected office. In theory, this potentially re-opens a path for the ⁠far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential ​race. But Le Pen is also sentenced to wearing an electronic tag for a year. She had said herself she would not run if that were the case. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent tells us the latest from the court.

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Britain's Farage resigns as MP to stand for re-election amid furore over gift worth millions
Britain's Farage resigns as MP to stand for re-election amid furore over gift worth millions

Nigel ​Farage, ​the leader of populist party ‌Reform ⁠UK, ‌said on Tuesday ⁠he was resigning as an MP to stand for re-election so that the public could decide whether he should be ousted from parliament over a scandal involving the alleged non-disclosure of gifts with millions of pounds.

FRANCE 24 July 7, 2026
Syria's al-Sharaa bets on relaunching economy to solve other issues
Syria's al-Sharaa bets on relaunching economy to solve other issues

France is ​working to redefine its security ​and military cooperation with Syria, including the potential support of ​French ‌special forces ⁠to fight against Islamic State in ‌the country. The announcement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron during a landmark visit to Damascus. But problems remain, mainly regarding the country's security. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley tells us more.

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
Marine Le Pen branding as 'victim of judicial harassment' would be 'political stretch'
Marine Le Pen branding as 'victim of judicial harassment' would be 'political stretch'

Marine Le Pen is set to give a crucial interview on French primetime television on July 7 following a sentence handed down by a court of appeal after she was found guilty of systemising the embezzlement of EU funds within her party, the National Rally. Although she has said she would not run with an electronic tag on, she could well change her mind. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent looks at the implications of such a decision.

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
'Decision time' for far right National Rally as ruling clears Le Pen's way for election run
'Decision time' for far right National Rally as ruling clears Le Pen's way for election run

Will Marine Le Pen leader be running in the 2027 presidential election? Or will she step back and let her popular 30-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella run instead? That is the question the party will have to answer following the appeal court's decision to bar Le Pen for office for 15 months, which could in theory allow her to run - although with an electronic tag, which she has already said would be a no-go. FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman and Luke Shrago tell us more.

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
Le Pen now 'has a choice' to run in the election or not
Le Pen now 'has a choice' to run in the election or not

A Paris appeal's court cleared the way July 7 for popular far-right leader Marine Le Pen to possibly run for the French presidency in 2027, but said she must wear an electronic bracelet. But she has said she would not in those conditions in the past. Now, the ball is in her court: she must decide whether she has to campaign with a monitoring bracelet or not. FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman tells us more.

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
What has French far-right leader Marine Le Pen been found guilty of and sentenced to?
What has French far-right leader Marine Le Pen been found guilty of and sentenced to?

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU fund, with the appeal's court sentencing her to a 15-month ineligibility for office and a year with an electronic tag. Technically this would allow her to run for the presidential election, but she has said she would not run with an electronic tag. FRANCE 2''s Catherine Norris-Trent is at the appeal's court in Paris and tells us more.

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
France's Le Pen cleared to run for president in 2027 but with ankle bracelet
France's Le Pen cleared to run for president in 2027 but with ankle bracelet

Marine Le Pen's path to the French presidency was thrown back into uncertainty on Tuesday after an appeals court cleared the far-right leader to run in next year's presidential election but ordered her to serve a one-year sentence with an ankle bracelet, raising questions over whether she could effectively campaign.

FRANCE 24 July 7, 2026
Who is Jordan Bardella, French far right's Marine Le Pen's protégé?
Who is Jordan Bardella, French far right's Marine Le Pen's protégé?

French far -right figurehead Marine Le Pen has been barred from public office for 15 months and sentenced to a year under electronic card after an appeal's course found her guilty of embezzling EU funds. Although this means she could run in the election, Le Pen always said she would not run for office with an electronic tag - meaning her protégé Jordan Bardella is likely to become the far right's presidential candidate. But who exactly is he?

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from public office in EU embezzlement case
Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from public office in EU embezzlement case

A French ​appeals court on ​July 7 upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds ​but shortened ‌her ban ⁠on running for elected office. In theory, this potentially re-opens a path for the ⁠far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential ​race. But Le Pen is also sentenced to wearing an electronic tag for a year. She had said herself she would not run if that were the case. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent tells us the latest from the court.

FRANCE24 July 7, 2026
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