PARIS - Senior members of France's far-right National Rally convened in Paris on Sunday for a demonstration in support of Marine Le Pen, who recently faced legal setbacks culminating in a five-year ban from public office.

The rally, held outside the Invalides dome, attracted several thousand attendees advocating for what they framed as a fight against judicial injustice.

Le Pen, addressing her supporters, declared, "I won’t give in," while criticizing the judicial system and alleging a political bias against her leadership.

Le Pen's conviction stems from her involvement in a fraud case concerning European Parliament assistants, which could preclude her from participating in the upcoming 2027 presidential election unless the verdict is overturned on appeal expected in 2026. She described the ruling as "politics, not justice," advocating for a structured yet peaceful resistance to the judicial establishment she claims obstructs her political ambitions.

Amid the ongoing legal battle, party president Jordan Bardella reaffirmed his commitment to Le Pen during the rally, emphasizing the trust and partnership they share within the party's leadership.

Messages of solidarity from international far-right figures, including Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Italy's Matteo Salvini, were displayed on screens during the event, highlighting the cross-border support for Le Pen and National Rally's agenda.

However, no comprehensive new strategy regarding the party's trajectory was articulated during the event, leading to suggestions of a passive approach while awaiting the outcome of Le Pen’s legal appeal.

The National Rally reported that, following the court's decision, approximately 500,000 individuals signed a petition supporting Le Pen, and the party claimed a surge of 20,000 new memberships, figures that remain unverified.

Tensions were palpable during the rally as journalists faced hostility from some attendees.

An incident involved a rally participant expressing discontent about their neighborhood dynamics, suggesting a growing frustration among supporters regarding societal changes.

Concurrently, opposition groups organized their own rallies in different Paris locations to challenge the narrative presented by the National Rally.

Left-leaning parties, including La France Insoumise and the Greens, gathered to oppose what they described as Le Pen's victimhood rhetoric.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a key opposition leader, publicly criticized the notion of Le Pen as a victim of injustice.

In a separate but related development, National Rally officials, including Bardella and Vice President Sébastien Chenu, publicly hinted at the possibility of challenging the government led by Prime Minister François Bayrou.

Their criticism focused on perceived failures to address critical issues like energy prices and electoral reform.

Observers noted that this shift in rhetoric could be tied to Le Pen's legal challenges, as her party, currently the largest in the National Assembly, plays a pivotal role in the stability of the minority government.

Bardella characterized the current government as ineffective while stressing that the National Rally has yet to decide on backing any no-confidence motion.

Any move to oust Bayrou would be significant, as it would increase pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to consider new elections amidst a politically fragmented legislature that continues to face deadlock and instability.

Le Pen, barred from holding office, would be precluded from contesting in any renewed election cycle.