THOUSANDS gathered for a rally led by left-wing parties on Sunday, warning that France’s far right is embracing United States-style authoritarianism.

The rally comes after French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty of using European Parliament funds to pay party staff in France, a scheme the court described as “a democratic bypass.”

She was sentenced to four years in prison, including two under house arrest and two suspended, and banned from public office for five years, effective immediately. Her appeal is expected next year.

“This is bigger than Marine Le Pen,” said Green Party leader Marine Tondelier. “It’s about defending the rule of law from people who think justice is optional.”

Placards read “No Trumpism in France” and “Anti-fascist response.”

The reaction has been sharply divided. 

Across the River Seine in Paris, National Rally (NR) supporters also gathered on Sunday to denounce the courts ruling as politically motivated.

But many outside the party see it as legitimate accountability.

“I challenge the notion that there is a tsunami of support for Le Pen on this issue,” said Dr John Goodman, director of Syracuse University’s flagship programme in France.

He also criticised the unusually rapid pace of Ms Le Pen’s appeal. 

“Her appeal has been fast-tracked so it can be heard in the summer of 2026, well before the 2027 presidential election, and significantly faster than a typical criminal case,” Dr Goodman said.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Gabriel Attal addressed supporters at a meeting of the right-wing Renaissance party in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, calling the moment “a test of the Republic.”

Ms Le Pen told Sunday’s NR gathering: “For 30 years I have fought against injustice. And I will continue to fight.”

NR president Jordan Bardella said: “The people must be free to choose their leaders — without interference from political judges.”

Some supporters wore “Je suis Marine” (“I am Marine”) shirts or compared Ms Le Pen to US President Donald Trump, who was convicted of civil fraud.

French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel described the NR gathering as “a sad circus.” 

Last week Mr Roussel cautioned that “history teaches us that attacks on the judicial system are always one of the first steps in the establishment of liberticidal and tyrannical regimes.” 

A range of organisations, including CGT, the left-wing union federation and the Human Rights League, are calling for demonstrations “throughout France” on April 12 to “defend the rule of law following its challenge by the far right” after Ms Le Pen’s conviction.