Marine Le Pen Vows ‘I Won’t Give Up!’ as Thousands Rally in Paris Against Election Ban

SUMMARY

Around 10,000 people flooded Place Vauban in Paris, rallying outside the Hôtel des Invalides—Napoleon’s tomb—to back National Rally leader Marine Le Pen. A court had banned her from running in the 2027 presidential election over alleged EU fund embezzlement, a ruling she’s appealing. Le Pen, the frontrunner, fired up the crowd, vowing, “I won’t give up!” She called the ban a “perverse game” to crush opposition and keep France in chaos, promising a “peaceful, democratic” fight inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. She slammed judicial overreach, insisting she’s all about democracy and rule of law. National Rally president Jordan Bardella, her likely successor, told the crowd, “They tried to silence her, but they woke up France!” He pledged to keep fighting for sovereignty and identity. Meanwhile, a smaller leftist counter-protest at Place de la République saw chants like “Marine and the fascists, in the dungeon,” with Palestinian flags waving.