France's Le Pen says will run for president despite fraud conviction

Summary

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen announced on Tuesday that she will run for president in 2027, after an appeals court shortened her ban on running for office, even as it upheld her conviction for embezzling EU funds to pay party staff. She also said she would ​appeal the conviction. Le ‌Pen immediately launched her campaign website and urged voters to back her, creating an unprecedented situation in France, with a ⁠lead candidate heading to the ballot after a guilty verdict for a public funds-related offence.