Bardella leads Paris rally supporting Le Pen's appeal against five-year ban

Jordan Bardella, the president of France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, has called for a rally in Paris this weekend in support of Marine Le Pen, who was recently banned from public office for five years due to embezzlement of EU funds. Le Pen faces significant challenges in her bid for the 2027 presidency following a court ruling that found her guilty of misusing €2.9 million in EU funds. Bardella condemned the ruling as a 'tyranny of the judges' and urged citizens to be 'outraged' by the decision, framing it as an attack on democracy. During a press conference, Le Pen described the ruling as a 'nuclear bomb' aimed at preventing her party from gaining power, emphasizing the need for supporters to mobilize. The rally is set to take place near the Eiffel Tower, with both leaders advocating for peaceful protest against what they perceive as judicial overreach. Bardella's comments reflect a growing narrative among global populists who view Le Pen as a martyr for their cause.