Particle.news
Download on the App Store
28 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Marine Le Pen Appeals Conviction as Rival Rallies Highlight Divisions in France

The far-right leader, banned from public office for five years, denounces her embezzlement conviction as politically motivated while counter-demonstrations defend judicial independence.

People rally in support of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in Paris, France, on Sunday, after Le Pen's Monday embezzlement conviction resulted in her being barred from running in the country's 2027 presidential election.
Marine Le Pen addresses a rally held in her support in Paris
People attend a rally in support of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, after calls for a peaceful mobilisation following Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzlement of EU funds, resulting in her being barred from running for office for five years, in Paris, France, April 6, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
People attend a rally in support of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, after calls for a peaceful mobilisation following Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzlement of EU funds, resulting in her being barred from running for office for five years, in Paris, France, April 6, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Overview

  • Marine Le Pen, convicted of embezzling €4 million in EU funds, has appealed her sentence, which includes a five-year ban from public office, with a decision expected by summer 2026.
  • Her National Rally party organized a rally in Paris, drawing an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 attendees, while left-wing and centrist groups held counter-demonstrations emphasizing the rule of law.
  • Le Pen compared her struggle to Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement, framing her legal challenges as a peaceful fight against what she calls judicial persecution.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron and other political leaders defended the judiciary's independence, rejecting claims of political interference in the court's decision.
  • Polls suggest Le Pen remains a frontrunner for the 2027 presidential election, with support ranging from 32% to 36%, despite her legal challenges and ongoing appeal.