Le Pen Poll Rating Climbs After Court Clears Her to Run

(PARIS, FRANCE) – Marine Le Pen has seen her support rise to as high as 35.5 percent in the first round of voting intentions for the French presidential election, following a court decision that allows her to stand. The figures come from an Elabe poll conducted for BFM TV and La Tribune Dimanche.

The survey, reported by Bloomberg, found that if the first round were held next Sunday, the leader of the National Rally party would secure between 34 percent and 35.5 percent of the vote. That represents a gain of three percentage points compared with a similar poll conducted in March. The improvement in her standing follows a ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal that reduced her ban on running for office from five years to 15 months, a period that has already expired.

Le Pen’s closest rival in the poll remains former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who attracted 19 percent support in one scenario. The same survey indicated that in a second round runoff, Le Pen would outperform all major potential opponents.

Bernard Sananes, chairman of Elabe, noted that Le Pen now leads among retirees and in large cities, two demographic groups that were previously weaker for her. Among the working population, she is running neck and neck with Philippe. Sananes said that what had once been her weaknesses are no longer so pronounced.

The polling shift comes in the wake of a significant legal development. The Paris Court of Appeal upheld Le Pen’s conviction in a case concerning the misuse of European Union funds but reduced the period during which she is barred from seeking public office. The original five year ban was cut to 15 months, a term that had already been served. Le Pen has stated that she will appeal the verdict to France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, which would suspend the effect of the decision.

Le Pen has formally announced her intention to run for president. She has also said that the execution of her sentence, which includes wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, will be suspended pending the appeal. She told reporters she would campaign without the bracelet.

The legal and political developments are reshaping the contest for the French presidency. Le Pen’s ability to stand, combined with her rising poll numbers, positions her as a central figure in the race. Her party has worked for years to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base, and the latest figures suggest those efforts are yielding results among voters who previously backed mainstream candidates.