France’s far-right National Rally party is calling for a nationwide demonstration under the banner “Save Democracy” in support of leader Marine Le Pen, who was barred from running for president after being found guilty of embezzlement. The rally comes after Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison, two suspended and two to be served with an electronic tag, as well as fined €100,000.
Despite her conviction, Le Pen may not have the public support she is counting on, according to polls. A recent survey found that 61% of French people thought her conviction justified, and two out of three believed the immediate application of a bar on standing for public office was “fair”.
However, experts warn that the rally may be more about party loyalty than genuine public support. “There will no doubt be a large crowd at the RN’s Paris meeting on Sunday,” commented FranceInfo. “But beware of optical illusions: every time, it’s not the ‘people’ who revolt against the judges, it’s just the supporters, the faithful who fly to the aid of their candidate.”
French Prime Minister François Bayrou has called for calm and mutual respect among rival parties, urging them to avoid clashes. The leftwing and centrist parties have also planned separate gatherings in support of the law being enforced and the court’s verdict.
Le Pen and her colleagues are not the only French politicians to have faced accusations of financial impropriety. In February 2024, eight members of Bayrou’s centrist party MoDem were found guilty of misusing European Parliament funds. Rightwing MP Éric Ciotti is also under investigation on allegations of misuse of public funds.
The National Rally is hoping for a show of strength in support of Le Pen, but polls suggest that her conviction may be more divisive than expected. As the French far-right mobilizes, the country remains engaged in a “battle of opinion” over issues of corruption and democracy, according to polling expert Stewart Chau.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/05/france-braced-as-far-right-and-leftwing-parties-plan-rallies-in-wake-of-le-pen-decision