Far-Right Rallies Planned in Paris Following Le Pen's Election Ban

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has been convicted of embezzlement and barred from standing in the 2027 presidential election, prompting her party to organize a protest rally in Paris expecting 8,000 to 10,000 participants. Le Pen's conviction came after a lengthy investigation into the misuse of EU funds for a fake jobs scheme, and she has announced plans to appeal the ruling. In response, left-wing parties and President Macron's Renaissance party have scheduled counter-demonstrations to support the enforcement of the law and to back the judiciary, which has faced threats. Prime Minister François Bayrou has urged participants on all sides to maintain calm and mutual respect during the protests. The RN's Jordan Bardella characterized the rally as a defense of democracy while Le Pen accused the ruling of being politically motivated. The legal proceedings have raised concerns about whether Le Pen will be able to participate in future elections, given the timeline for appeals.