France's far-right National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen has dubbed her recent court ruling, which prohibits her from holding office, a "witch hunt". Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of flag-waving supporters in Place Vauban, near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, she defiantly stated, "I won't give up." A court found Le Pen guilty of facilitating the embezzlement of €2.9 million (£2.5 million) in EU funds from 2004 to 2016, resulting in a five-year ban from running for office and a fine of €100,000 (£82,635). She plans to appeal the verdict.
At her Paris rally, Le Pen argued that the ruling was politically motivated, asserting, "We are not asking to be above the law, but to not be below the law." Jordan Bardella, RN's president, suggested the ruling was a direct assault on democracy and indicated that the judiciary's decision aimed to exclude Le Pen from the 2027 presidential race. He stressed that, while he respects the judicial system, he believes it has been weaponized against Le Pen.
Responses from political adversaries have been sharp. Gabriel Attal, a prominent member of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party, countered Le Pen's claims by stating, "you steal, you pay," criticizing the idea of interference in judicial matters. Global figures, including US President Donald Trump, have weighed in, calling Le Pen's conviction significant.
In a virtual address to a gathering of Italy’s right-wing Lega party, Le Pen equated her struggle to that of the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., framing her battle as fundamental for the civil rights of the French populace. A poll by BFMTV conducted after the court ruling revealed that 57% of respondents believed justice had been served impartially in the case.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Paris Court of Appeal has indicated it may reach a decision on Le Pen's case by summer 2026, just months ahead of the presidential elections. In addition to her five-year ban, Le Pen has been handed a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended. Despite the challenges, RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli emphasized the party's commitment to support Le Pen as a candidate, while hinting that 29-year-old Bardella could serve as a strong alternative.
With the political landscape rapidly evolving and significant public backing for new leadership, Le Pen's future and that of her party hangs in the balance as they navigate this judicial turmoil leading up to the 2027 elections.
