France, July 7 -- "This evening, I am a candidate in the presidential election," she said, ending uncertainty over whether she would run for the top job for the fourth time in elections viewed as her party's best ever chance to win the presidency.

The Paris appeals court earlier on Tuesday upheld a guilty verdict against the three-time presidential hopeful over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament that diverted more than 2.8 million euros (more than $3 million) in EU funds.

It banned her from office for 15 months and sentenced her to one year under house arrest to be served with an electronic tag, throwing into doubt whether she would be able to campaign unhindered.

But the 57-year-old veteran politician on the evening news said...