Marine Le Pen returned to the campaign trail in La Fleche, western France, on Wednesday, a day after a Paris appeals court shortened her ban from public office and kept her 2027 presidential hopes alive.

Footage shows Le Pen walking through the market in the Sarthe department alongside National Rally President Jordan Bardella, as supporters chant 'Marine, President'. She greeted people, hugged supporters and posed for photos.

On Tuesday, the appeals court upheld Le Pen's conviction over the misuse of European Parliament funds in a fake-jobs case, but reduced her period of ineligibility.

The ruling means she can still stand in the 2027 presidential election, although her campaign could be complicated by a possible electronic tag if her appeal to the Court of Cassation fails.

Le Pen has confirmed she will run, setting up a fourth bid for the Elysee after reaching the second round in 2017 and 2022.

The decision keeps the National Rally's leading figure politically alive, while Bardella remains the party's likely fallback option if further legal challenges stop her from standing.