2025-04-06 18:17
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2025-04-06 18:17
The leader of the French extreme right Marine Le Pen at the Sunday rally in Paris again criticized the court verdict, calling him a “political decision.” She assured of respect for the state of law, at the same time talking about “witch hunt” and “deviations” from democracy.
Le Pen performed by supporters of her party, the National Union (RN), gathered at Vauban Square near the Inwalidian Palace. The square was not completely filled, but the head of RN Jordan Bardella assured that 10,000 came for a rally. people.
Le Pen stated that the judgment of the court – from which she referred to the higher instance – “is not a court but political decision.” She argued that the court, convicting her, expressed “contempt” for the state of law and democracy. The verdict she talked about is provided for, among others A five -year ban on applying for public functions (such a penalty often is made at the sentences for embezzlement).
“The justice system cannot interfere in the way the deputies perform their mandate in the service of citizens, if there was no personal enrichment or corruption. He cannot choose candidates in the election,” said the politician who intends to run in the presidential election in 2027. The court's judgment complicates these plans.
“We do not contest the justice system, but we demand that these deviations, unworthy of democracy, end,” said Le Pen. She argued that it was her movement that defends the state of law and democracy. She talked about “peaceful, democratic, folk and patriotic” “resistance”, mentioning the figure of the leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA, Martin Luther King.
Le Pen's speech was preceded by the speeches of her colleagues. Vice -chairman of the RN Louis Aliot, convicted in the same process, also found guilty of the embezzlement of public funds, argued that “no public money was embezzled” and there was no “any damage” for the European Parliament. The trial concerned the fictitious employment of assistants of the extreme right MEPs.
Chairman of the RN Jordan Bardella said that the court's decision was “unfair and scandalous.” He repeated his earlier assessment that the sentence was the “kaid” of French democracy. At the same time, he argued that the RN “would never question the chapter of the authorities and the independence of the courts”, nor “exerted pressure on democracy.”
Le Pen appealed against the sentence. The Paris Court of Appeal intends to consider the appeal in the summer of 2026. The presidential election will take place in the spring of 2027. The extreme right leader competed three times in the presidential election: in 2012, 2017 and 2022.
From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)
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