Le Pen: We will follow Martin Luther King's example, we will not resort to violence, we will not give in to the violation of democracy

"We will use all possible legal means to be able to participate in these presidential elections and thwart the attempt to disrupt the functioning of democracy in France," Le Pen said.

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Marine Le Pen, Photo: Reuters

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06.04.2025. 14:51h

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who was banned from holding public office by a court for embezzlement of public funds, said today that she would challenge the ruling democratically and peacefully, citing the struggle for civil rights in the United States (US) of the priest Martin Luther King Jr.

"Our fight ... will be a peaceful fight, a democratic fight. We will look to Martin Luther King, who defended civil rights because the civil rights of the French are being questioned today," Le Pen said in a video address to the congress of Italy's League, Matteo Salvini's anti-immigrant party, being held in Florence.

Political tensions in the country were caused by a harsh verdict in the first instance trial against the French National Rally party for embezzlement of public funds and a ban on holding public office for party leader Marine Le Pen, one of the favorites in the next French presidential elections, planned for 2027.

Marine Le Pen's entourage has already in recent days referred to American leader Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement, who was assassinated by a white segregationist on April 4, 1968, on the terrace of a motel in Memphis, in the southern United States.

They reiterated that the National Rally party will use legal channels and peaceful demonstrations. They are challenging the legitimacy of the verdict in the first instance, handed down over the European Parliament assistant affair.

"We will fight, we will never resort to violence, we will never give in to the violation of democracy. We will use all possible legal means to be able to participate in these presidential elections and thwart the attempt to disrupt the functioning of democracy in France," Le Pen said.

Salvini thanked her back: "Thank you Marin, we don't want to take up any more of your time... today will be an important day for you and for France," Salvini said.

A rally in support of Marine Le Pen is being held in Paris this afternoon in front of the Palais des Invalides, where Napoleon's sarcophagus is located.