France’s far-right, left-wing rally after Le Pen conviction

France’s far-right planned to rally supporters on Sunday after their leader Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement and banned from public office, a move that set the country’s political scene alight ahead of 2027 presidential elections.

The bombshell judgment stunned France’s political establishment, and some left-wing forces and the centrist camp also planned to stage counter-rallies on Sunday.

“People of France, let us mobilise to defend freedom, save democracy and support Marine!” Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party said on X ahead of the protest in Paris.

The far-right is on the rise in France. Polls indicate Le Pen, 56, would easily top the first round of the two-round presidential vote if she ran.

She describes herself as the “favourite” to succeed President Emmanuel Macron.

On Monday, Le Pen, 56, was found guilty of embezzling European Parliament funds and given a partly suspended jail term and an immediate ban on holding public office.