Despite a conviction for misuse of EU funds, Le Pen declares determination to fight the ruling and rallies her backers against perceived political bias.
**Le Pen Claims Court Ruling is Politically Motivated at Paris Rally**
**Le Pen Claims Court Ruling is Politically Motivated at Paris Rally**
Marine Le Pen rallies support, calling her conviction a "political decision" aimed at hindering her 2027 presidential ambitions.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), addressed a crowd of enthusiastic supporters in Paris on Sunday, asserting that a recent court ruling barring her from political office for five years was a "political decision." The ruling comes after she was found guilty of facilitating the embezzlement of €2.9m (£2.5m) in EU funds from 2004 to 2016 for her party's benefit, a verdict that she has vowed to appeal. Speaking at Place Vauban near the Eiffel Tower, she insisted, "I won't give up," framing her conviction as part of a broader "witch hunt" against her party.
At the rally, RN president Jordan Bardella echoed Le Pen's sentiments, arguing that the court's decision represented an attack on democracy, asserting it was aimed at removing her from competing in the presidential election in 2027. While Bardella refrained from criticizing the judiciary outright, he nonetheless highlighted the perceived injustices faced by Le Pen.
French government representative Gabriel Attal responded sharply to her claims, asserting, "You steal, you pay," and criticized the growing international support for Le Pen from right-wing figures, including Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orban. U.S. political figure Donald Trump also weighed in, characterizing her conviction as a significant issue.
Public sentiment appears divided; a recent poll from BFMTV showed that 57% of respondents believed justice was served without bias regarding Le Pen's case. The Paris Court of Appeal has indicated that a final decision on her appeal may not come until summer 2026, months before the next presidential election.
As Le Pen readies for her fourth presidential campaign, the court ruling and accompanying fines—including a €100,000 (£82,635) penalty and a four-year prison sentence, of which two years are suspended—have raised questions about her political future. RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli stated that while they would fight for Le Pen's candidacy, Bardella, who is only 29, is seen by many as a viable alternative should the appeal fail. Interestingly, a pre-sentencing poll revealed that approximately 60% of RN voters would support Bardella over Le Pen in the event of a presidential bid. With Macron ineligible for re-election, the political landscape in France remains highly charged as the 2027 election approaches.
