July 7, 2026, 8:17 p.mJuly 7, 2026, 8:28 p.m
Running despite conviction: Marine Le Pen.Image: keystone
Despite her conviction, France’s leading right-wing nationalist Marine Le Pen is running for president next year. The 57-year-old told broadcaster TF1 that she would appeal against her conviction and run as a candidate. “Tonight I am a candidate for the presidential election.” The right-wing nationalists are considered to have a good chance of making it into the decisive runoff in the election next spring. However, Le Pen’s candidacy is associated with legal risks.
Le Pen has steadily increased election results
Earlier in the afternoon, an appeals court found Le Pen guilty in a case involving fictitious employment and EU funds. It imposed a year in prison with an ankle bracelet and deprived her of the right to stand for election for 15 months. Le Pen has already served this sentence since the first instance verdict. Another 30 months are suspended. Also because running for office would not have been possible in every case, Le Pen wanted to make the decision dependent on the verdict.
Marine Le Pen has already run for president in France three times. While it came in third place in 2012, it has gained significant popularity in recent years. In both 2017 and 2022 she ended up in the runoff against centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron – and lost to the political whiz kid or previous president.
Nevertheless, Le Pen increased her results in every election. The fact that she lost so clearly to Macron in 2022 is due to the fact that many from the left camp voted for Macron in order to prevent Le Pen’s victory at all costs.
France’s president has a lot of power
The French president is directly elected by the people for five years. An absolute majority of the votes cast is necessary for the election. As a rule, the decision is made in a runoff between the two applicants with the most votes. The election is expected to take place next April and May.
France’s head of state is significantly more powerful than the German Federal President. He is the army chief and can decide on military operations and the use of nuclear weapons. He appoints the Prime Minister and, at his suggestion, the rest of the government. The president can dissolve the National Assembly and call referendums. In dangerous situations, the constitution grants him almost full control over the state.
Berlin and Brussels are worried about a possible victory for the Eurosceptic and nationalist Le Pen. (sda/dpa)