Le Pen Denounces ‘Political Witch-Hunt’ After Ruling, as Rival Parties Rally Across France

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has vowed to contest what she called a “political ruling” against her party, claiming she is the target of a “witch-hunt” amid a sharp rise in political tensions across France. Her remarks came as rival parties staged simultaneous rallies nationwide, highlighting the country’s deepening ideological divisions ahead of upcoming elections.

Speaking to a packed crowd of supporters in Lyon on Sunday, Le Pen called the recent judicial decision — which found members of her National Rally (RN) party guilty of misusing public funds — a “strategic attack designed to discredit the movement.” She insisted the charges were politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissenting voices.

“This ruling has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with politics,” Le Pen declared.

Meanwhile, France’s left-wing parties, led by La France Insoumise (LFI), held counter-demonstrations in cities including Paris, Marseille, and Toulouse, accusing Le Pen’s party of hiding behind democratic rhetoric while promoting extremist ideologies.

LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the court ruling had “torn off the RN’s mask,” exposing what he called the party’s “true anti-democratic nature.” He urged French citizens to reject far-right populism and defend the rule of law.

“This is not just about financial wrongdoing,” Mélenchon said. “It’s about the values we want to protect in our republic — justice, equality, and accountability.”

The contrasting rallies underscored the increasingly polarized political climate in France, where both the far-right and the radical left are gaining momentum at the expense of traditional centrist parties. President Emmanuel Macron’s government, already weakened by ongoing economic challenges and social unrest, has largely stayed silent on the matter.