Could the National Rally retaliate in parliament by attempting to bring down the fragile coalition government?

F or the better part of a decade Marine Le Pen has worked methodically to transform an extremist, xenophobic fringe movement into a more respectable nationalist party ready to govern. The French hard-right leader had a reasonable chance of winning the highest office in 2027,

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has denounced the court ruling that placed a five-year ban on her seeking public office for embezzlement.

Marine Le Pen and officials in her party were found guilty of misusing European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016.

Marine Le Pen's party chief Jordan Bardella denied Wednesday any intent to strong-arm the French judiciary with a rally in support of the veteran far-right leader, after her conviction of embezzlement and a ban from standing for office.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that France had "killed democracy" with the conviction of far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Le Pen was banned from running in the 2027 French presidential election after being convicted of embezzlement on Monday.

When French far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused the judiciary of deploying a "nuclear bomb" to blow up her presidential hopes, she added France to the countries where accusations of "lawfare" - political meddling by judges - are gaining currency.

National Rally supporters say the court decision punishing France’s far-right leader for embezzlement will ultimately redound in her favor.

A Paris court said on Tuesday three appeals have been filed so far in the case against the far-right National Rally party that saw leader Marine Le Pen banned from running for office for five years, but did not provide details on who had filed them.