Defiant Le Pen warns rally 'existence of France' in peril

Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, who was convicted last week of embezzling public funds and banned from running for office, said the existence of France was at stake during a speech in Paris yesterday.

- REBECCA WHITTAKER

Thousands of supporters gathered at Place Vauban, near the golden dome of Les Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon, for what was billed as a protest – but observers said it had all the markings of a campaign rally.

She told the crowd she would peacefully fight her five-year ban and draw inspiration from American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

A Paris court convicted Le Pen and several National Rally (RN) party members of embezzling EU funds last week and imposed a sentence that will prevent her from standing in France’s 2027 presidential election unless she can get the ruling overturned within 18 months. Le Pen was found guilty of using European parliament funds meant for aides to pay party staff in France.