Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, who was convicted last week of embezzling public funds and banned from running for office, said the existence of France was at stake during a speech in Paris on Sunday.
Thousands of supporters gathered at Place Vauban, near the golden dome of Les Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon, for what was billed as a protest – but observers said it had all the markings of a campaign rally.
She told the crowd she would peacefully fight her five-year ban and draw inspiration from American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
A Paris court convicted Le Pen and several National Rally (RN) party members of embezzling EU funds last week and imposed a sentence that will prevent her from standing in France’s 2027 presidential election unless she can get the ruling overturned within 18 months.
Le Pen was found guilty of using European parliament funds meant for aides to pay party staff in France.
Supporters of the far-right National Rally party in France waved French flags and chanted “we will win” at the protest.
Le Pen, 56, said: “I do not know giving up. I do not know surrender. We are committed to the fight.”
She also spoke to the crowd about patriotism and painted herself and her supporters as the “real and loyal” France.
“We have to fight the people who want to thwart us at every step,” she said.
Prior to her speech, Le Pen made a video appearance for an anti-immigration Italian party at a meeting in Florence, where she also evoked the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.
Continuing the surprising comparison, she went on: “Our fight will be a peaceful fight, a democratic fight. We will follow Martin Luther King [Jr], who defended civil rights, as an example.”
On the other side of the Seine on Sunday, hundreds gathered for a counter-rally led by left-wing parties. “This is bigger than Marine Le Pen,” said Green Party leader Marine Tondelier. “It’s about defending the rule of law from people who think justice is optional.”
The leader of France’s National Rally party, which was set up as the National Front by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1972, is one of the most prominent figures of the European far right.
Although her ban from public office begins immediately, her jail sentence and fine will only be confirmed once Le Pen has exhausted her appeals against the ruling.
She has appealed the court’s decision and vowed to use all the legal means available to run in the election. The court has said it will issue a ruling on the appeal in the summer of 2026.
Source: independent.co.uk