PARIS, March 31. /TASS/. The leader of the French National Rally party, Jordan Bardella, has called on his supporters to hold protests opposing the verdict against Marine Le Pen, head of the parliamentary faction of the party, which stripped her of the right to participate in the elections.
"The verdict that prevents Marine Le Pen from running for president in 2027 is a scandalous attack on democracy. Mass peaceful actions should show that the will of the people is stronger," the politician wrote on X.
On Monday, a court in Paris found Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds and sentenced her to four years in prison, two of which she will have to wear an electronic bracelet (the remaining two years are suspended). The verdict, according to experts, means she will not be able to run for president of France in 2027. As explained by Le Figaro, Le Pen may retain her parliamentary mandate and the post of chairman of the party's faction, but she will not be able to participate in possible early elections to the National Assembly (lower house) of the French parliament.