The National Rally, Le Pen’s party, organized the event in response to what it called a politically motivated decision. But with the chants, the message was clear: this was more than a protest. It was a show of populist opposition aimed directly at France’s institutions.
Convicted of embezzlement of public funds and banned from running for office, far-right politician Marine Le Pen stood motionless in front of a “river” of French flags in Paris yesterday. “For 30 years I have fought against injustice,” she told the crowd. “And I will continue to fight.” Thousands of supporters gathered at Place Vauban, near the golden dome of Les Invalides and Napoleon’s tomb, for what was billed as a protest but experts said had all the hallmarks of a campaign rally. The National Rally, Le Pen’s party, organized the event in response to what it called a politically motivated decision. But with the chants, the message was clear: this was more than a protest. It was a show of populist defiance aimed squarely at France’s institutions.
PROTESTS IN FRANCE
Le Pen was found guilty of using European Parliament funds to pay party staff in France, a scheme the court described as “a democratic circumvention.” She was sentenced to four years in prison, including two under house arrest, and banned from public office for five years, effective immediately. Her appeal is scheduled for next year. Reaction has been mixed. While National Rally supporters denounce the decision as politically motivated, many outside the party see it as legitimate.
“I challenge the idea that there is a tsunami of support for Le Pen on this issue,” said John Goodman, Ph.D., director of the Syracuse University major program in France. He also criticized the unusually fast pace of Le Pen’s appeal. “Her appeal has been fast-tracked, so it could be heard in the summer of 2026, well before the 2027 presidential election, and significantly faster than a typical criminal case,” Goodman said.
“TRUMPIST TURN”
On the other side of the Seine, hundreds gathered for a counter-rally led by left-wing parties, warning that France’s far right is embracing American-style authoritarianism. “This is more important than Marine Le Pen,” said Green Party leader Marine Tondelier. “It’s about defending the rule of law from people who think justice is optional.” Banners read “No Trumpism in France” and “Anti-fascist response.” Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal addressed supporters at a meeting of the center-right Renaissance party in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, calling the moment “a test of the Republic.” Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe stood by his side. Although police were out in force, only minor clashes were reported.
ACCUSES AGAINST JUDGES
Beyond the legal battle, the rally revealed a deeper strategy. Party leaders have spent the week accusing the judges of plotting a “judicial coup.” They have called the conviction a political “execution.” The goal is not just to overturn the verdict – it is to convince voters that the legal system itself cannot be trusted. It is a page from Trump’s playbook: paint the courts as biased, the system as broken, and frame any legal hurdle as an attack on democracy. The ballot box becomes the only authority that matters.
WHAT IS EXPECTED?
Le Pen may be barred from running – for now – but her political machine is not yet finished. Bardella, long seen as her polished scholar, is emerging into the spotlight with growing confidence and sharp rhetoric. “We will be here tomorrow,” he told the crowd. “And we will be stronger.” The rally was more than a show of force. 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? How she answers that question could shape not just the 2027 presidential race – but the future of French democracy.
