Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally party, addressed supporters in Paris this past weekend, asserting that her recent embezzlement conviction is a manifestation of political persecution rather than a legitimate judicial ruling.

Le Pen likened her movement to the civil rights struggles led by Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing a non-violent approach to political advocacy.

Le Pen was convicted on March 31 and received a sentence of four years, which includes two years of prison and two years suspended, along with a five-year ban from standing for elected office.

The court found that she misused EU parliamentary funds intended for assistants to pay for party staff in France.

Despite her conviction, she is appealing the verdict, although the sentence took immediate effect.

At a gathering in central Paris's Place Vauban, which ostensibly served as a protest, Le Pen and her supporters expressed their determination to fight what they characterize as an unjust legal system.

Jordan Bardella, the current president of the National Rally and a potential successor to Le Pen, accused the judiciary of overreach.

He framed the court's ruling as a threat to democracy, asserting that it aimed to deprive constituents of their electoral choices.

Le Pen contended that the decision was politically motivated, arguing that it improperly disturbs democratic order by hindering her ability to participate in the political landscape.

She claimed it is an effort to silence her voice and the electorate's voice, maintaining that the ruling demonstrates a departure from the rule of law.

Contrastingly, Gabriel Attal, the former Prime Minister and leader of the centre-right Renaissance Party, defended the legality of the conviction, stating it was the product of a decade-long investigation into the National Rally's financial activities.

Attal criticized Le Pen's comparisons to figures like Alexei Navalny and Martin Luther King, arguing that such statements misrepresent the nature of her situation.

In the midst of these developments, left-wing activists also gathered in Paris, some expressing disdain for Le Pen's political ideology by emphasizing slogans like "No Trumpism in France" and "Emergency Revolution." Members of the Unbowed party articulated that the conviction indicates accountability for Le Pen’s financial misconduct, asserting that she should take responsibility for her actions.

While a portion of Le Pen's supporters expressed concerns over the immediate enforcement of her sentence, claiming it undermined her right to appeal, the National Rally continues to witness considerable backing in polls.

Bardella's emerging role as a key political figure suggests that National Rally might maintain its influence leading up to future elections.

The outcome of Le Pen’s appeal, which is anticipated in mid-2026, could significantly alter the political dynamics in France, leaving the country divided on the implications of the court's ruling.