Marine Le Pen, a convicted far-right politician, rallied thousands of supporters in Paris on Sunday, defying a ban from public office. The event was billed as a protest, but observers say it had the markings of a campaign rally.
Le Pen’s party, National Rally, organized the gathering in response to what they claim is a politically motivated verdict. However, the crowd’s chants and signs suggest that Le Pen’s supporters are not just reacting to her conviction but also embracing populist defiance aimed at France’s institutions.
Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 29-year-old protégé, delivered a fiery speech, accusing judges of trying to silence opposition. He claimed that the party would respect democracy while denouncing magistrates’ unions and warning of a “system determined to crush dissent.”
Le Pen was found guilty of using European Parliament funds for party staff in France, with some calling it a “democratic bypass.” Her supporters see this as a legitimate issue, while many outside the party view it as accountability.
The National Rally’s strategy is clear: paint the courts as biased and frame any legal setback as an attack on democracy. This approach has echoes of U.S. President Donald Trump’s playbook.
As Le Pen faces a ban from public office for five years, her party will focus on convincing voters that the system can’t be trusted. The rally was more than a show of strength; it was a test – can the far right convince enough French voters that justice is no longer neutral and that only they can return power to the people?
This gathering may shape not only the 2027 presidential race but also the future of French democracy.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5354698/le-pen-france-conservative-populism