Le Pen sentencing reshapes France’s presidential election
8 reported1 unconfirmed
France's upcoming presidential election has taken an unusual turn after far-right leader Marine Le Pen's decision to run for a fourth time, despite being found guilty twice of embezzling public funds. On Tuesday, a Paris appeals court shortened a ban on seeking public office and reduced the prison sentence handed down last year, clearing a path for the 57-year-old Le Pen to campaign. The court ordered that she must serve a year of home detention with electronic monitoring, but Le Pen has challenged the ruling to France's highest court, which said the process will suspend the electronic monitoring sentence until it rules. The Court of Cassation said the process should conclude before the election's first round in April, with a runoff in May. Le Pen announced she will campaign as a "duo" with protege Jordan Bardella, saying Bardella would be her prime minister if she wins. Critics argue her embezzlement conviction makes her ethically unfit for the presidency, while polls show French voters want higher ethical standards in public life.
What’s reported
Marine Le Pen is running for the French presidency for a fourth time.
She has been found guilty twice of embezzling public funds.
A Paris appeals court shortened a ban on seeking public office and reduced her prison sentence.
The court ordered one year of home detention with electronic monitoring.
Le Pen challenged the ruling to France's highest court, which suspended the electronic monitoring sentence until it rules.
The Court of Cassation said the process should conclude before the election's first round in April.
Le Pen announced she will campaign as a "duo" with Jordan Bardella, who would be her prime minister if she wins.
Critics say her conviction makes her ethically unfit for the presidency.
Open questions
When the Court of Cassation will rule on Le Pen's challenge is unclear.
Key figures
Marine Le Pen: far-right leader, presidential candidate
Jordan Bardella: protege, president of National Rally party
Luc Rouban: senior researcher at Sciences Po
Julien Jeanneney: professor of public law at University of Strasbourg
Bernadette Flament: 73-year-old resident
Célia Belin: specialist at European Council on Foreign Relations
Alex Turnbull: AP journalist
Sources: abcnews.com
