Far-right leader Bardella urges Paris rally against sentencing of Marine Le Pen

ISTANBUL / PARIS

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella called for a rally in Paris on Sunday following the conviction and sentencing of Marine Le Pen, the BBC reported.

“We'll take to the streets this weekend,” Bardella said Tuesday, with a call for “democratic, peaceful, and calm mobilizations.”

Bardella said the French must be "outraged" by Monday’s verdict.

Right-wing standard bearer Le Pen, 56, the apparent front-runner for the 2027 presidential election, was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzling EU funds.

Le Pen also got a four-year prison sentence, including two years with an electronic tag and the remainder suspended. She was also fined €100,000 ($108,200).​​​​​​​

Former French premier criticizes planned rally

Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal condemned the planned rally, saying it was contrary to the principle of judicial independence.

“When I look at Jordan Bardella’s remarks, I understand that this is, above all, a rally against the independence of the judiciary and the judicial authority,” Attal told reporters.

In response, Attal announced plans to hold a separate rally on the same day for those who defend and support democracy in France and around the world.