France's Le Pen sentenced to 15-month ban from office

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PARIS: A Paris appeals court has upheld the embezzlement conviction of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen but shortened her ban on running for public office to 15 months. The ruling stems from a long-running European Parliament fake-jobs scam.

The court also handed Le Pen a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended. She must serve the remaining year under house arrest while wearing an electronic ankle monitor.

While the reduced 15-month ban technically keeps her 2027 presidential bid alive, the strict electronic tag requirement threatens her campaign. Le Pen previously stated she would not run if her movements were restricted by a judge.

If Le Pen withdraws, her 30-year-old protégé, Jordan Bardella, is expected to stand as the National Rally's candidate.