Modest anger at Le Pen-demonstrators in Paris: ‘This is an outright attack on democracy’

A clear blue sky above Paris, swelled by a few aircraft tracks. With the Eiffel Tower on the left, a crowd gathered on Sunday in front of the stage of the Radical-Right Party Rassemblement National (RN), strategically placed for the imposing dome of Les Invalides, where Napoleon Bonaparte rests in his tomb.

One by one they are searched on arrival at the Place Vauban, the thousands of French people who come to express their support to ‘their navy’. Those who do not define themselves as a patriot will automatically be hired by one of the many French flags distributed by the RN organization.

The addition is the answer to the call for « peaceful and democratic, patriotic resistance » of political leader Marine Le Pen, after being convicted on Monday for tampering with European money. She speaks during the demonstration of a « political decision, a witch hunt. » The judgment at first instance: four years in prison, of which two years conditional and two years with electronic supervision, a fine and five years of inaugurationability with immediate effect. That means exclusion from the presidential elections of 2027, while Le Pen had good cards to become the first radical-right president of France during her fourth attempt.

MEP Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old crown prince of the radical-right party, also excludes that this was a purely legal decision. « This is a political execution, which not only the rule of law, but also the state of democracy. » There sounds shout and clapping.

‘Banana Republic’

« I am not a typical marinist, but it is very serious that she is deprived of the right to stand for election, » says Michel-Alain Picos, who is concerned with CO₂-Making the industry neutral. Picos is not yet sure whether RN will get his voice in the future. « The big problem is that she pursues a left -wing economic policy. I think we should stop taking more officials in a country that already has almost 10 million. »

Just before Le Pen, in their own words ’emotional’, the stage boarding, the message of radical-right on large screens is enooded by international colleagues from the same political family. Santiago Abascal Conde and Harald Vilimsky, prominent politicians of the extreme right-wing Spanish party Vox and the radical-right Austrian party FPö, come into the picture, their support to Le Pen. Matteo Salvini van de Lega, member of the right -wing government coalition with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: « I know what it means to be personally attacked by the legal system. When I protected the Italian borders, they tried to get me behind the bars for six years. »

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán calls on his « best friends » to let the future of France not let some political commissioners decide.  » PVV leader Geert Wilders briefly expresses « his confidence in girlfriend Marine and the crowd ». « Don’t let your country make a banana republic, » is Wilders’ message.

Foulards, Blazers and Barbourras

The crowd dances to the music of Dalida (‘Laissez-Moi dancer’), while the Vlaggenzee reflects the RN politicians on stage, with sash in the equal tricolor. The atmosphere is, under a warm spring sun, pleasant. That is exactly how the party had it: RN wanted to stay far away from the violent storming of the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, said parliamentarian Jocelyn Dessigny earlier this week. « Many voters contacted us. We had to do something to reassure them and channel their anger. »

Women with straw hats, foulards around their necks, waving their flags frantically. Men in blazer or barbour jacket nod in agreement. Gold seal rings alternate metal earrings. A large part of the audience is young. According to Steven Van Hecke, professor of European politics at the University of Leuven, it fits perfectly into the political strategy of Le Pen, to « convince center -right voters. » He continues: « The more delicious the audience is that they can mobilize, the better. She does everything to avoid the image that she attracts the extreme right -wing scum. »

A large group of younger activists came by bus from Seine-et-Marne, a French department where suburbs of Paris alternate with rural areas. Jazz Roubaud (18) and Gabriel Fabre (17) pose for a photographer – a cross is dangling around her neck, he is wearing a suit and a tie. According to Fabre, the judge who condemned Le Pen is « a socialist, » according to him, it is a « outright attack on democracy. »

Le Pen knows how to turn a defeat into a political success

Great anger about the Le Pen judgment is not forthcoming. The meeting will get more the appearance of an early kick -off of the campaign for the 2027 presidential elections – rejected under the slogan #Sauvonsladémocracy (« Let’s save democracy »).

« Le Pen knows how to turn a defeat into a political success, » says Hecke political scientist. Le Pen appeals and receives an accelerated procedure, whereby her inaugurationability may expire in 2026. When RN-Kroonprins Bardella « takes on the leadership in the next presidential election and wins, » he can grant le pen, « says Van Hecke. He concludes: « This is definitely not the political end of Le Pen. »

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