On April 6, 2025, thousands gathered in Paris in support of Marine Le Pen following her conviction. The rally featured Le Pen denouncing the court's decision as a political witch‐hunt and criticizing EU institutions, mobilizing far‐right sentiments and furthering an authoritarian narrative.

Following a Paris court's conviction of Marine Le Pen and associates of embezzlement, President Trump publicly decried the ruling as a 'witch hunt' and called for her release, an endorsement that further legitimizes far‐right and authoritarian ideologies. As the leader of National Rally, Le Pen’s legal setback and subsequent external political support underscore the party's controversial role in promoting nationalist and anti-democratic agendas.

Marine Le Pen, the former leader of National Rally, was sentenced to prison for embezzlement and barred from holding public office, limiting the far-right party's potential to exert undue influence. This legal outcome, despite being decried by far-right supporters, is seen as a necessary accountability measure in curbing authoritarian practices.

Marine Le Pen, leader of National Rally, was sentenced to four years in prison (with two years suspended) and banned from holding public office for five years following her conviction on embezzlement charges related to misappropriation of over €4 million from the European Parliament. Italian Deputy PM Matteo Salvini decried the verdict as 'a declaration of war by Brussels,' highlighting the politically charged nature of the ruling.

During the recent parliamentary elections in France, National Rally advanced a 'French first' strategy by singling out dual citizens and criticizing the appointment of minorities, which has been linked to a broader surge in racist and antisemitic incidents across the country.

A report from France’s human rights commission links rising racism to far‐right policies, highlighting National Rally's 'national preference' plan that would restrict the rights of immigrants and influence legislative debates. The party's push for these measures, accompanied by leadership statements from Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, reinforces a divisive, authoritarian political stance.

The far-right National Rally (RN) continues to promote an anti-immigration and nationalist platform, which the CNCDH report links to a rise in racist and xenophobic sentiments in France. Their proposals to restrict immigrant rights are seen as antithetical to the principles of equality and democracy.

The article reports on how National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, has strategically rebranded and built on its electoral successes to position itself as a mainstream political force in France. By softening certain stances to attract broader support while maintaining a far‐right agenda, the party contributes to the normalization of extremist policies that undermine democratic norms.

Following the recent French elections, the far‐right Rassemblement National secured three Senate seats, marking a significant increase in their political influence and signaling a potential shift toward authoritarian representation.

The article reports a dramatic rise in non-public funding for National Rally in France, with its share of donations growing from 13% in 2019 to 38% in 2022. This financial boost supports the party's far-right and nationalist agenda, which is associated with authoritarian political movements.

Data analysis reveals that National Rally's share of non-public funding in France increased dramatically from 13% in 2019 to 38% in 2022, indicating a growing reliance on donor money that fuels far‐right and authoritarian agendas.