The Paris Court of Appeal upheld far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds but reduced the timeline of her electoral ineligibility, clearing her to run in the 2027 presidential election, Le Monde reported on July 7. The court imposed a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and one to be served under electronic monitoring.

A lower court found Le Pen guilty in March 2025 of misusing EU funds by paying National Rally staff with European Parliament assistant allowances, conduct the court described as serious and sustained, continuing across three legislatures and more than a decade despite European Parliament warnings. That verdict's immediate five-year ban on electoral eligibility, applied despite her appeal, had excluded her from the 2027 presidential race, drawing accusations of judicial overreach and undemocratic processes. Against this backdrop, Bardella emerged as the alternative party candidate for the 2027 elections.