In a spirited address to an enthusiastic crowd in Paris, Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, vowed to challenge a five-year ban on her candidacy following her conviction for embezzlement. Speaking to thousands of supporters who echoed her name, Le Pen portrayed herself as a champion for those she claims are marginalized by the political elite. Her speech focused on accusations of restricted free speech, biased judiciary processes, and a political “system” allegedly designed to block her party’s ascent to power amid what she described as France’s descent into “ruin and chaos.”
“I won’t give up,” Le Pen declared, denouncing her legal troubles as a politically charged “witch hunt” meant to thwart her run in France’s 2027 presidential election, where she has been a leading contender. “They are doing this for a single reason,” she continued. “We are winning.” Her conviction, which has sparked responses from international right-wing figures including former U.S. President Donald Trump, echoes his criticisms of judicial bias. Observers noted her approach was less inflammatory compared to Trump’s often heated rhetoric, as her event lacked the angry fervor seen during the Capitol riots in Washington on January 6.
During the rally, Le Pen invoked the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., advocating for “peaceful and democratic resistance” against her legal penalties. She emphasized her belief in equality before the law, asserting, “I am not above the law, but not below it, either.” Addressing the crowd from a stage adorned with the slogan “Let’s save democracy” in front of the historic Invalides, where Napoleon’s remains lie, Le Pen’s supporters primarily appeared hopeful rather than indignant, as they claimed the court verdict was unduly severe.
Among the attendees, Jean-Louis Viardot, a 74-year-old retired auto worker, commented, “I support Marine, even though she did something foolish. She should be punished, but the sentencing was too harsh.” The case in question involved Le Pen, alongside 23 others from the National Rally, misappropriating over €4.4 million in European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. She received a four-year prison sentence, half of which was suspended, with the remainder to be served under house arrest, alongside a €100,000 fine. Additionally, she faces a five-year disqualification from public office pursuits.
While appealing the verdict, the Paris Court of Appeal is expected to conclude by the summer of 2026. If the ban is overturned, Le Pen could sufficiently prepare for her presidential campaign. Though not unprecedented for French politicians to be deemed ineligible due to corruption, barring a presidential frontrunner is exceptional. Le Pen’s backers argue she is being unjustly targeted. Echoing this sentiment, Antoine Issa, a 74-year-old retired public works employee, questioned, “Why didn’t they do the same thing against Bayrou?” referencing France’s prime minister, François Bayrou, acquitted over similar, though smaller-scale, embezzlement claims.
Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s protégé and National Rally’s current leader, was also present, reiterating his support for her leadership. “We have a sacred duty to be there, to stand united behind Marine,” Bardella said. Concurrently, two political rallies were held elsewhere in reaction to Le Pen’s conviction. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance party transformed a pre-planned meeting into a defense of the rule of law, while the hard-left France Unbowed and the Green party similarly convened to safeguard judicial integrity against perceived far-right threats.
Original Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/world/europe/france-marine-le-pen-rally.html
Category : Le Pen, Marine,France,Embezzlement,National Rally (France),Paris (France),Demonstrations, Protests and Riots,Decisions and Verdicts,European Parliament
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Publish Date: 2025-04-07 06:06:00
