Tens of thousands of Marine Le Pen’s supporters gathered in Paris to show their support for the embattled French politician, who has been banned from running in the 2027 French presidential election after being convicted for embezzlement of public funds.
On Sunday, supporters of the National Rally leader gathered at the Place Vauban, close to Les Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon, to stage a protest against her conviction, which many see as a nakedly political attempt to sabotage the surging French right.
“For 30 years I have fought against injustice,” she told the crowd. “And I will continue to fight.”
Le Pen was flanked by her deputy Jordan Bardella. He gave a fiery speech in which he accused the French judiciary of trying to neuter the political opposition.
“March 29 was a dark day for France,” he said, referring to the date of Le Pen’s conviction.
“The people must be free to choose their leaders—without interference from political judges.”
Bardella was careful to state his party would respect the democratic protest, while denouncing judicial unions and warning of “a system determined to crush dissent.”
Supporters bore placards saying “Justice taking orders” and “Stop the judicial dictatorship,” or wore t-shirts bearing the slogan “Je suis Marine” (“I am Marine”).
Some compared her directly to President Donald Trump.
The verdict against Le Pen, which was delivered last week, has been widely attacked outside France, including by President Trump and Elon Musk.
Musk wrote on Twitter, “When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents.”
Italy’s Matteo Salvini, another populist leader, said, “This is a declaration of war by Brussels. We will not be intimidated, we will not stop.”