French Appeals Court Upholds Marine Le Pen’s Conviction but Clears Her to Run for Office

The Paris Court of Appeal upheld convictions against Marine Le Pen, 11 others, and the National Rally for systematically diverting European Parliament funds from 2004–2016 to finance the party, assessing damage of €2.8 million. Le Pen was sentenced to three years with two suspended, fined €100,000, and given a modified period of ineligibility that preserves her right to run for office; defendants must reimburse the Parliament and have 10 days to appeal to the Court of Cassation.