In a recent rally, Le Pen argued her embezzlement conviction is unjust while garnering support from far-right allies across Europe.
**Le Pen Declares Conviction a 'Political Attack' Amid Rallying Support**
**Le Pen Declares Conviction a 'Political Attack' Amid Rallying Support**
Marine Le Pen contests court ruling forbidding her from running for office, labeling it a politically motivated attack.
France's controversial far-right leader Marine Le Pen has taken her battle against the judiciary to the streets, condemning a recent court ruling that disqualifies her from holding office for five years as a "witch hunt". Addressing a enthusiastic crowd waving French flags at Paris's Place Vauban near the Eiffel Tower, Le Pen vowed to resist the legal ruling, which implicated her in the embezzlement of €2.9 million (£2.5 million) in EU funds between 2004 and 2016.
The court's ruling has sparked outrage within Le Pen's National Rally (RN), which claims the decision is a political maneuver aimed at thwarting her 2027 presidential campaign. Le Pen cited her conviction as a political stratagem, stating on Sunday, "We are not asking to be above the law, but to not be below the law." Fellow RN leader, Jordan Bardella, echoed her sentiments, declaring the judgment to be an assault on democracy.
In response, Gabriel Attal, president of Emmanuel Macron's centrist party, insisted that one who engages in wrongdoing must face consequences, claiming, "You steal, you pay." The ruling has drawn additional scrutiny, with United States political figures such as former President Donald Trump referring to the conviction as a "very big deal," further complicating the narrative surrounding Le Pen's political future.
During a virtual appearance at an Italian political event, Le Pen drew parallels between her circumstances and the struggle for civil rights championed by Martin Luther King Jr., asserting that the current situation threatens the democratic rights of the French people.
Recent polling indicated that 57% of French citizens believe the verdict was fair and not biased against Le Pen. As the timeline for her appeals processes unfolds, the Paris Court of Appeal expects to deliver its verdict by mid-summer 2026, just ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
In addition to the five-year disqualification, Le Pen received a fine of €100,000 (£82,635) and a sentence of four years in prison, with two years suspended. Her party quickly positioned itself for a potential change in leadership, hinting at Bardella, their 29-year-old president, as a possible successor should her appeals fail. Polls show that about 60% of RN voters would support Bardella over Le Pen, raising questions about the future direction of far-right politics in France as the 2027 election approaches.
