Le Pen's party chief calls on French people to rally against election ban

Far-right party leader Bardella calls for French protests against Le Pen's ban from office, sparking controversy and division.

Far-right party chief Jordan Bardella called on the French to rally this weekend to protest against a ruling that banned Marine Le Pen from running for public office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling European Union funds.

Monday's (March 31, 2025) ruling was a catastrophic setback for Ms. Le Pen, the long-time National Rally (RN) leader, who had been the front-runner in opinion polls for the 2027 presidential election.

"I believe today that the French must be outraged, and I tell them: Be outraged!," Mr. Bardella told Europe 1 radio and CNews TV over a ruling that far-right leaders said was biased and undemocratic.

"We will take to the streets this weekend. We're organising leaflet distributions, democratic, peaceful, calm mobilisations," he said.

Mr. Bardella offered few details on the protests, other than saying that there would be leafleting and meetings "everywhere in France" and that RN lawmakers would hold news conferences in their constituencies.

On Tuesday (April 1, 2025), in Ms. Le Pen's stronghold of Henin-Beaumont in northern France, local RN officials were handing out leaflets that read "Let's save democracy. Support Le Pen!"

Mr. Bardella could become the RN's de facto candidate for the 2027 election. But Ms. Le Pen made clear she was not yet ready to hand him the baton, saying on Monday (March 31, 2025), "I'm not going to let myself be eliminated like this." Mr. Bardella backed her on Tuesday (April 1, 2025).