Nationwide Mobilization to Defend the Rule of Law Amid Attacks on the Judiciary

This Saturday, April 12, a large-scale mobilization is set to take place across France, organized by around thirty civil society groups. Associations, trade unions, and NGOs are rallying to defend the rule of law and democratic values, in response to increasing tensions surrounding judicial independence.

The initiative follows the March 31 conviction of Marine Le Pen and other National Rally (RN) officials for the misuse of public funds. In the wake of the ruling, several party leaders lashed out at the judiciary, denouncing what they called a “tyranny of judges”—a statement that has sparked widespread criticism, including from within the legal community. Marine Le Pen was sentenced to five years of ineligibility, effectively barring her, for now, from running in the 2027 presidential election.

In response to these developments, organizations including SOS Racisme, France Terre d’Asile, the Human Rights League (LDH), Greenpeace, Oxfam, SOS Homophobia, La Cimade, the CGT, and Solidaires have issued a joint statement:

“Because we stand for democracy and the principles that uphold it, we call on all those who share these values to express their support for justice and the rule of law by joining rallies across France.”

Protests are planned in dozens of cities—including Nîmes, Tarbes, Rouen, Lille, Lyon, and Nantes—with a major gathering scheduled at 5 p.m. in Paris’s Place de la République, where union and NGO representatives are expected to speak.

Uncertain Turnout

While the call to action is backed by the Socialist Party, France Unbowed (LFI), the Greens, and the French Communist Party, the major national trade union confederations (CFDT, FO, CFTC, Unsa, CFE-CGC) have not joined. Organizers cite the short notice of the announcement—made public only on Tuesday—and overlapping school holidays as major obstacles to higher turnout.

A previous rally, organized by LFI and the Greens the week prior, drew only a modest crowd of around 3,000 in Paris and saw little participation from civil society groups. Still, the hope is that this new call will attract broader and more diverse support. The central message: attacks on the rule of law threaten the very foundations of democracy and must not go unanswered.