Summary
France is preparing for rival rallies after Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling €4m in EU funds and barred from running for president in 2027.
The far-right National Rally called for mass protests against what it labels an attack on democracy, while leftwing and centrist groups plan gatherings supporting the judiciary.
Le Pen, sentenced to four years in prison and a five-year public office ban, is appealing.
Polls show most French citizens support the conviction, though the RN claims political motivation and seeks to rally its base.
South Korea and France, at least, are getting this part right.
Germany too. Get convicted for a serious criminal offence and you can kiss your ability to be elected goodbye for five years.
Marine Le Pen herself once said that if you use your position in office to commit a crime, you should be banned from politics for life.
“Mais non! Not like that!!”
I can see why the French right love her so much, given that the right wing do a lot of “rules for thee, but not for me”