Several thousand supporters of the National Rally party held a mass demonstration against the deprivation of the head of the parliamentary faction of the party Marine Le Pen of the right to participate in the presidential elections of 2027, Report informs via TASS.
Le Pen speaking at the demonstration on the Vauban Square in the VII arrondissement called her trial political and promised that she would continue the fight "to victory."
"This political decision has become a mockery of the rule of law and democracy," Le Pen said. "The pathetic spectacle that France is demonstrating does not correspond to the level of state institutions demonstrated in the world, and it does not correspond to the level of the homeland of human rights."
She added that her verdict was "not justice, but a witch hunt."
The protesters chanted "Marin is the president!" and "We will win!"
The demonstration took place without major incidents. However, some female activists with bare chests began shouting slogans about fascism and demanded that Le Pen be imprisoned. They were promptly detained and escorted outside the demonstration by the security personnel.
"We do not question justice, but we demand that these abuses, which are unworthy of democracy, stop," Le Pen said. "Never forget why they are attacking us so persistently: we are winning."
Le Pen said she was looking up to Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King in the fight for civil rights. She thanked the French, French politicians, and "foreign politicians, state and party leaders" who spoke in her favor.
Besides to Le Pen, the rally was attended by Perpignan mayor Louis Aliot, head of the Union of the Right parliamentary faction Eric Ciotti, and formal National Rally leader Jordan Bardella, who promised to support Le Pen to the last.