Paris, France – French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has vowed that the National Rally (RN) will “not let the French people have the presidential election stolen from them” after a court ruling effectively barred her from running in the 2027 election.
Speaking at a closed-door party meeting attended by members of the press on Friday morning, Le Pen fiercely denounced the verdict, which she described as “a nuclear bomb” dropped on her by “the system.”
“If they use such a powerful weapon against us, it is because we are on the verge of winning the elections,” she asserted. “We will not let this happen.”
The court decision, which was handed down on Thursday, has sparked a political firestorm in France, with Le Pen’s supporters decrying what they see as judicial interference in the democratic process. The ruling reportedly stems from legal issues linked to her past political finances, although details remain contentious.
Le Pen, who has led the National Rally for over a decade and advanced to the second round of the last two presidential elections, framed the verdict as an attack on French voters’ rights.
“The French people have the right to vote for whomever they wish,” she said, claiming the judiciary had overstepped its bounds in what she called a politically motivated effort to sideline her.
While she sharply criticized the ruling, Le Pen also condemned reported threats against the judges involved in the case. “Threats against members of the judiciary are scandalous and unacceptable,” she said, calling for protests to remain peaceful.
Bardella Announces ‘Peaceful Mobilisation’
In response to the ruling, National Rally president Jordan Bardella has launched a campaign of “peaceful mobilisation” to support Le Pen.
Speaking to reporters late Thursday, Bardella called for protests and leafleting campaigns to be held across the country this weekend, asserting that the movement had already gained momentum online.
“Since last night, an online petition in support of Marine Le Pen has already gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures,” Bardella said, adding that additional rallies and demonstrations are expected in the coming days.
The ruling has sent shockwaves through France’s political landscape, with allies of Le Pen accusing the judiciary of attempting to sideline the far-right ahead of the next election.
The decision also raises questions about the future leadership of the National Rally, with Bardella widely viewed as a potential successor to Le Pen should she be unable to run.
Political Reactions and Wider Implications
While Le Pen and her supporters decried the ruling as undemocratic, critics argue that the decision is a legal matter and not a political maneuver.
Several opposition figures have called for respect for judicial independence, while some centrist and left-wing politicians expressed concern about the escalating rhetoric from Le Pen’s camp.
As protests and political battles loom, the controversy surrounding the court ruling is expected to dominate France’s political discourse in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a heated debate over democracy, the judiciary, and the future of the far-right in France.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
