Marine Le Pen denounced a conviction that risks blocking her from the next presidential election as a “witch-hunt” and vowed to appeal in order to “defend democracy and the rule of law”, as thousands of people rallied in Paris on Sunday in support of the embattled far right leader.
Le Pen and her Rassemblement National party were found guilty on Monday of embezzling €4.4mn of EU parliament funds earmarked for Brussels staff who were in reality working for the RN in France.
She was given an immediate ban on standing for election for five years, as well as two years in prison that would likely be served at home with an electronic bracelet, followed by two additional years suspended.