Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally party, is considering continuing her political campaign even if convicted and required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, according to discussions on RMC radio’s “Les Grandes Gueules” program on Sunday.
The debate follows an appeals court hearing concluded on February 11, 2026, regarding allegations of misusing European Union funds. A verdict is expected on July 7, according to the Associated Press. The original conviction last March led to her being barred from running for public office, a ruling she is appealing.
During the RMC discussion, commentators suggested Le Pen should exhaust all legal avenues, potentially appealing to the Court of Cassation and even the European Court of Human Rights, mirroring the strategy employed by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy during his own legal battles. “It would be a mistake not to campaign even with an electronic bracelet,” one commentator stated, as reported by Nextplz.
The possibility of a conviction with electronic monitoring has sparked debate about its potential impact on her campaign. Some believe it could galvanize support, presenting an image of defiance. The length of any potential ineligibility is considered crucial; a ban of less than two years would, according to the RMC discussion, make withdrawing from the political arena strategically unsound.
Le Pen’s defense team argued before the appeals court that she did not intentionally misuse funds, according to reporting from The Guardian. Her lawyer, Sandra Chirac Kollarik, asserted that Le Pen “never in her life would have deliberately accepted making a false contract.”
The case centers on accusations that Le Pen organized a scheme to embezzle European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. Judges in the initial trial ruled she was “at the heart” of the system, issuing a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and two to be served with an electronic bracelet.
The outcome of the appeal is expected to significantly impact the French political landscape, particularly on the right and far-right, potentially reshaping ambitions and strategies.
