Marine Le Pen on Wednesday announced her latest presidential campaign in Paris, undeterred by a recently upheld conviction for embezzlement. Supporters in the scenic town of Montargis, 75 miles south of Paris, expressed unwavering backing, with many citing a desire for political change and skepticism toward the justice system.
Conviction Upheld but Popularity Remains High
The appeal court decision this week upheld Le Pen's conviction for misusing European Parliament funds, but shortened her ban from running for office. Originally barred until the 2030s, she can now stand in the presidential election next year. The court ruled she played a key role in siphoning over €2.8 million through a fake-jobs scheme between 2004 and 2016, funneling money to her then-cash-strapped National Rally (RN) party. She was ordered to wear an electronic ankle tag for one year with a curfew, but has vowed to appeal to France's highest court, putting the sentence on hold during her campaign.
Snap polling this week shows Le Pen's popularity remains high, positioning her strongly for the two-round vote in April and May. She previously lost to Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and 2022.
Montargis: A Town Yearning for Change
In Montargis, known as the Venice of the Gâtinais region for its canals and pralines, Le Pen's announcement was met with enthusiasm. The town elected a rightwing mayor from RN earlier this year, part of a wave where RN and its allies more than tripled the number of town halls under their control. Jean-Antoine, a 76-year-old retired decorator, said: “Even the judges said she didn’t personally profit from the money, it was for her party. All politicians in France have always been schemers, it’s just a fact of life.” He added: “People want change.”
An antiques dealer in his 60s, who wished to remain anonymous, stated: “People will still vote for Le Pen because there’s massive pressure for change. Immigration, benefits, the healthcare system – none of that is working properly and people have had enough. Le Pen’s legal case feels unfair – a leftwing politician wouldn’t have been treated the way Le Pen was by the justice system.”
Concerns Over Conviction's Impact
Not all supporters are unwaveringly confident. Gisèle, 84, a retired gymnastics coach, said: “I think this could put a brake on her.” Christiane, a chiropodist, expressed disappointment that RN party president Jordan Bardella, 30, is not running: “Bardella is young, he’s close to the people, he had a chance. I like Marine Le Pen, but is France really going to elect a president with a conviction?”
Céline, a pharmacist and centrist voter, said: “I don’t think it’s right to run for French president if you have been convicted.” Selma, 48, a mother-of-three of Tunisian descent, voiced fears of deepening divisions: “Racism is becoming more brazen. The other day I was verbally assaulted in a car park. A woman who wanted my parking spot humiliated me in a racist way, saying she was more French than I was.”
Le Pen's Strategy to Detoxify RN
Le Pen's 15-year effort to soften the RN's image—changing its name from Front National while maintaining hardline anti-immigration policies—has paid dividends in towns like Montargis. The party's gains reflect a broader shift, as RN appeals to voters disillusioned with traditional parties. Montargis was also a hotspot for the gilets jaunes protests in 2018-2019, with new RN mayor Côme Dunis, 36, an active participant. In 2023, the town saw unrest after the police killing of Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan descent.
Despite the conviction, Le Pen's campaign is proceeding, with her vowing to appeal. The coming months will test whether her legal troubles can derail her path to the Élysée Palace.
