French appeals court upholds Marine Le Pen conviction, orders ankle tag

Paris – A French Court of Appeal on Tuesday confirmed the conviction of Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, for the misuse of European Parliament allowances. The court upheld the 2022 judgment that found the former presidential candidate had improperly allocated funds designated for parliamentary activities, resulting in a suspended twelve‑month prison sentence and a €20,000 fine. The appeal focused on whether the expenses claimed for staff salaries and travel were legitimate, and the judges concluded that the irregularities constituted a breach of the European Parliament’s financial rules.

The ruling marks the final legal decision in the case, as Le Pen has exhausted all avenues of appeal. While the conviction does not affect her current mandate as a Member of the European Parliament, it reinforces scrutiny of the use of EU funds by national politicians. Observers note that the upheld sentence underscores the European institutions’ commitment to enforcing financial accountability, and the decision is expected to influence ongoing debates about transparency and ethics in French politics.