Despite being banned from office for five years, Le Pen vows to fight on.
**Le Pen Denounces Conviction as Political Vendetta Amid Rallying Support**
**Le Pen Denounces Conviction as Political Vendetta Amid Rallying Support**
France’s National Rally leader Marine Le Pen claims her embezzlement conviction is a politically motivated attack.
On Sunday, Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), lashed out against a court ruling that has barred her from public office for five years, branding the verdict a “witch hunt.” Speaking passionately to a crowd of thousands at Place Vauban near the Eiffel Tower, she declared, "I won't give up."
Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling €2.9 million (£2.5 million) of EU funds from 2004 to 2016, a ruling she plans to appeal. At the rally, she contended that the court's decision was politically charged, asserting, "We are not asking to be above the law, but to not be below the law."
Jordan Bardella, RN's president, echoed her sentiments, calling the decision "a direct attack on democracy" and a deep offense to the patriotic French populace. While emphasizing that he wished to avoid generalizing about the judiciary, Bardella claimed the ruling was an attempt to eliminate Le Pen from the 2027 presidential race.
In response to these statements, Gabriel Attal, head of President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party, remarked, "you steal, you pay," emphasizing accountability while denouncing interference in French legal matters. Notably, Le Pen's conviction has drawn support from various right-wing international leaders, including Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orban. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, calling her conviction "a very big deal."
During the rally, Le Pen participated via video-link in a congress for Italy's right-wing Lega party, drawing parallels between her struggle and that of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. She stated, "Our fight will be like yours - a peaceful fight, a democratic fight," framing her legal challenges as a defense of French civil rights.
A recent poll conducted by BFMTV indicated that 57% of the French public believed justice was served in Le Pen's case without bias. On Tuesday, the Paris Court of Appeal indicated it could reach a decision on her appeal by summer 2026, just months before the next presidential election.
Besides the five-year ban, Le Pen has also incurred a €100,000 (£82,635) fine and a four-year prison sentence, of which half has been suspended, with the final imposition contingent on the outcome of her appeals, which may stretch over several years.
Laurent Jacobelli, RN spokesperson, acknowledged the party's commitment to fighting for Le Pen’s candidacy but also noted that the youthful Bardella could serve as a "naturally legitimate" alternative if needed. Bardella has remained non-committal regarding his position in the event of the appeal's outcome, but a pre-sentencing poll suggested that about 60% of RN voters would support him over Le Pen in a hypothetical presidential run. Meanwhile, Macron is ineligible for reelection at the upcoming presidential ballot.
Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling €2.9 million (£2.5 million) of EU funds from 2004 to 2016, a ruling she plans to appeal. At the rally, she contended that the court's decision was politically charged, asserting, "We are not asking to be above the law, but to not be below the law."
Jordan Bardella, RN's president, echoed her sentiments, calling the decision "a direct attack on democracy" and a deep offense to the patriotic French populace. While emphasizing that he wished to avoid generalizing about the judiciary, Bardella claimed the ruling was an attempt to eliminate Le Pen from the 2027 presidential race.
In response to these statements, Gabriel Attal, head of President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party, remarked, "you steal, you pay," emphasizing accountability while denouncing interference in French legal matters. Notably, Le Pen's conviction has drawn support from various right-wing international leaders, including Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orban. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, calling her conviction "a very big deal."
During the rally, Le Pen participated via video-link in a congress for Italy's right-wing Lega party, drawing parallels between her struggle and that of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. She stated, "Our fight will be like yours - a peaceful fight, a democratic fight," framing her legal challenges as a defense of French civil rights.
A recent poll conducted by BFMTV indicated that 57% of the French public believed justice was served in Le Pen's case without bias. On Tuesday, the Paris Court of Appeal indicated it could reach a decision on her appeal by summer 2026, just months before the next presidential election.
Besides the five-year ban, Le Pen has also incurred a €100,000 (£82,635) fine and a four-year prison sentence, of which half has been suspended, with the final imposition contingent on the outcome of her appeals, which may stretch over several years.
Laurent Jacobelli, RN spokesperson, acknowledged the party's commitment to fighting for Le Pen’s candidacy but also noted that the youthful Bardella could serve as a "naturally legitimate" alternative if needed. Bardella has remained non-committal regarding his position in the event of the appeal's outcome, but a pre-sentencing poll suggested that about 60% of RN voters would support him over Le Pen in a hypothetical presidential run. Meanwhile, Macron is ineligible for reelection at the upcoming presidential ballot.
