France's far-right leader Le Pen hits campaign trail after conviction in EU embezzlement case

Cover image: French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party figurehead Marine Le Pen (C) greets supporters as she arrives with RN president Jordan Bardella (L) for a campaign gathering in the city of La Flèche on July 8, 2026. © Fred Tanneau, AFP

France's far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen launched her fourth presidential campaign in the small town of La Flèche in the country's Loire Valley Wednesday after an appeals court cleared her to run for office – despite upholding her conviction for misusing millions of euros in public funds.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was greeted by cheers and boos on Wednesday as she launched her presidential campaign in western France, a day after an appeals court enabled her to run despite confirming her ​conviction for embezzling ‌millions of euros in EU public funds.