French far-right politician Marine Le Pen has pledged to challenge the ruling of a court that has essentially barred her from standing in the 2027 presidential election, saying she would not let the French people see their election “stolen” from them. Addressing journalists earlier today, Le Pen denounced the court decision, referring to it as an unfair move against her political freedom, saying the ruling was part of a bid to stop her from winning.
In a combative address, Le Pen characterized the verdict as “a nuclear bomb” that the political establishment had dropped on her, claiming that the strong ruling indicated the political class’s fear that her National Rally party was on the cusp of winning the next election. She further cautioned that the court’s intervention in the election process might send worst-case signals for France’s democratic principles.
We will not allow this,” Le Pen vowed, emphasizing having to protect the right of French people to choose their candidate. She blamed French judges for disrespecting democracy and discrediting the nation for its role of protecting democratic ideals around the world.
Le Pen also decried recent threats to judges who were part of the ruling, labeling them as “scandalous” and “unacceptable.” Maintaining her staunch opposition to the verdict, Le Pen also used the moment to express solidarity with the protests calling for her cause.
Several hours later, the president of the National Rally and would-be presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella declared preparations for a “peaceful mobilisation” in Le Pen’s support. Protests and fly-leaving exercises will be carried out this weekend, and the online petition, launched in reaction to the politician’s plight, has already secured “hundreds of thousands” of signatures.
Le Pen’s battle exposes the intense political fractures in France with the coming elections in 2027 drawing closer.