According to Fox News, France's appeals court upheld Le Pen's embezzlement conviction tied to alleged misuse of European Union funds by her National Rally party, but struck down the ban that would have barred her from running for office. She remains under a year-long house arrest with electronic monitoring and continues to deny wrongdoing.

Can Le Pen mount an effective national campaign while confined to house arrest with an ankle monitor? Her party must decide whether to weaponize the conviction as persecution or pivot to policy. Voters will judge whether a candidate fighting legal battles can deliver on promises.

Le Pen got exactly what she needed: ballot access, not acquittal. For a candidate who thrives on confrontation with institutions, a sentence that restricts her movement but preserves her candidacy may sharpen her message. She can claim persecution while still asking voters for power. Once the campaign starts, it stops being a referendum on judges and becomes a referendum on Marine Le Pen.