At a Paris rally, Le Pen and her party leaders assert the court's ruling was an attack on democracy, with implications for future elections.
**Le Pen Denounces Court Ruling as Political Maneuver at Paris Rally**
**Le Pen Denounces Court Ruling as Political Maneuver at Paris Rally**
Marine Le Pen calls her conviction a "political decision," vowing to fight and claiming bias against her party.
In a fervent display of defiance, Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), addressed thousands of supporters at a rally in Paris on Sunday, branding her recent court conviction a "political decision." The ruling prohibits her from holding public office for five years after she was found guilty of embezzling €2.9 million in EU funds between 2004 and 2016. "I won't give up," she told the cheering crowd in Place Vauban near the Eiffel Tower, asserting a relentless commitment to her political ambitions.
Le Pen's conviction, currently under appeal, has sparked claims of a "witch hunt" against her and the RN. She emphasized, "We are not asking to be above the law, but to not be below the law." Also addressing the gathering, Jordan Bardella, RN's president, characterized the ruling as a direct affront to democracy and a blow to millions of patriotic French citizens. He cautioned against discrediting all judges, yet insisted that the judgment was a maneuver to sideline Le Pen for the crucial presidential election slated for 2027.
In a sharp rebuttal, Gabriel Attal, head of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party, asserted, "you steal, you pay," criticizing what he termed "unprecedented interference" in France's affairs. The rally echoed with sentiments from international right-wing leaders, including Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orban, who extended their support to Le Pen post-ruling. US President Donald Trump described her conviction as a "very big deal."
A BFMTV poll conducted following the court's decision indicated that a notable 57% of the French respondents believed that justice was served impartially in Le Pen's case. Nonetheless, the Paris Court of Appeal is not expected to reach a decision regarding her appeal until the summer of 2026, just ahead of the next presidential contest.
In addition to the five-year exclusion from office, Le Pen also faces a €100,000 fine and a four-year prison term, with two of those years suspended — implications that hinge on the upcoming legal processes, which could extend for several years. RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli reaffirmed the party's determination to support Le Pen's candidacy, while Bardella, seen as a potential successor, has tactically remained aloof regarding his role in the future of the party.
Despite the turmoil, an opinion poll published shortly before the ruling found that roughly 60% of RN voters would prefer Bardella over Le Pen as their candidate if he decides to run for president. Meanwhile, President Macron's constitutional limitation barring him from seeking another term adds another layer to the electric atmosphere surrounding the upcoming electoral landscape in France.
Le Pen's conviction, currently under appeal, has sparked claims of a "witch hunt" against her and the RN. She emphasized, "We are not asking to be above the law, but to not be below the law." Also addressing the gathering, Jordan Bardella, RN's president, characterized the ruling as a direct affront to democracy and a blow to millions of patriotic French citizens. He cautioned against discrediting all judges, yet insisted that the judgment was a maneuver to sideline Le Pen for the crucial presidential election slated for 2027.
In a sharp rebuttal, Gabriel Attal, head of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party, asserted, "you steal, you pay," criticizing what he termed "unprecedented interference" in France's affairs. The rally echoed with sentiments from international right-wing leaders, including Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orban, who extended their support to Le Pen post-ruling. US President Donald Trump described her conviction as a "very big deal."
A BFMTV poll conducted following the court's decision indicated that a notable 57% of the French respondents believed that justice was served impartially in Le Pen's case. Nonetheless, the Paris Court of Appeal is not expected to reach a decision regarding her appeal until the summer of 2026, just ahead of the next presidential contest.
In addition to the five-year exclusion from office, Le Pen also faces a €100,000 fine and a four-year prison term, with two of those years suspended — implications that hinge on the upcoming legal processes, which could extend for several years. RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli reaffirmed the party's determination to support Le Pen's candidacy, while Bardella, seen as a potential successor, has tactically remained aloof regarding his role in the future of the party.
Despite the turmoil, an opinion poll published shortly before the ruling found that roughly 60% of RN voters would prefer Bardella over Le Pen as their candidate if he decides to run for president. Meanwhile, President Macron's constitutional limitation barring him from seeking another term adds another layer to the electric atmosphere surrounding the upcoming electoral landscape in France.
