The demonstration planned for Sunday in Paris in support of the French political leader Marine Le Pen, “is not a show of force, but a mobilization for democracy,” MEP Jordan Bardella stated to reporters at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today.

“This is not a show of force, on the contrary, it is a very clear and profound defence of the rule of law and of French democracy. In fact, it is a mobilization not against but for French democracy,” Bardella said, referring to the demonstration planned by his party, the National Rally (RN) after Le Pen was sentenced to be deprived of her political rights.

Le Pen was found guilty of “misuse of public funds” and sentenced on Monday to four years in prison and a 100,000-euro fine. She was also stripped, with immediate effect, of her right to stand for election for five years, meaning she will not be able to stand in the 2027 presidential election.

“It seems to us necessary (…) to be able to address the French directly through the speeches that will be delivered on Sunday, in the presence of all our staff, our MPs and our activists,” the RN president added.

Bardela also said he would continue to be “on the side” of Marine Le Pen and “will fight the battle“. He described as “good news” the French Court of Appeal’s announcement that it will rule on the appeal filed by Le Pen in the summer of 2026, several months before the elections.