A sea of French flags greeted Marine Le Pen, a convicted far-right politician, at a rally in Paris on Sunday. Despite being banned from running for office, Le Pen told the crowd she would continue to fight against injustice.
The National Rally, Le Pen’s party, organized the event in response to what it calls a politically motivated verdict. However, chants of “Marine Présidente!” and signs reading “Justice taking orders” suggested this was more than just a protest – it was a show of 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 the opposition. He denounced magistrates’ unions and warned of a system determined to crush dissent.
The rally revealed a deeper strategy: convincing voters that the legal system itself can’t be trusted. Party leaders have accused judges of plotting a “judicial coup” and frame any legal setback as an attack on democracy.
Le Pen’s supporters see this as a test of whether they can convince enough French voters that justice is no longer neutral, and that only they can return power to the people. The outcome may shape not only the 2027 presidential race but also the future of French democracy.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/france-le-pen-demonstration-embezzlement-20517c4a97e35c9fa0a658960365bed9