The far-right leader went on to argue that the verdict violated the principles of the rule of law. She expressed her determination to fight the decision, vowing to seek all available legal remedies and asserting that millions of French citizens trust her to defend their interests
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, has been barred from running in the 2027 presidential election following her conviction for embezzling European Union funds. A Paris court’s decision on Monday has ignited a fierce backlash from far-right leaders across Europe, who are denouncing the ruling as politically motivated.
Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate, received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended to be served under house arrest, along with a €100,000 ($108,000) fine. Her party, National Rally, was also slapped with a hefty €2 million fine. The ruling, however, has sparked controversy, with Le Pen and her supporters asserting that it is designed to eliminate her from the political scene ahead of the next election.
In her first public response, Le Pen strongly criticized the court’s decision, calling it “a political decision” meant to prevent her from participating in the 2027 presidential race. “The magistrate took it upon herself to implement the provisional execution of the ineligibility, making my appeal pointless and preventing me from standing for president,” Le Pen said in a video shared on social media.
The far-right leader went on to argue that the verdict violated the principles of the rule of law. She expressed her determination to fight the decision, vowing to seek all available legal remedies and asserting that millions of French citizens trust her to defend their interests.
International reactions quickly followed. Former US President Donald Trump voiced support for Le Pen, comparing her legal battles to his own struggles with the US legal system. “She was banned from running for five years, and she was the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country,” Trump remarked, describing the court’s ruling as a “very big deal.”
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also expressed concern, noting that the exclusion of political figures from the process was troubling, particularly in light of similar tactics used against President Trump.
The international outcry continued as Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini denounced the verdict, calling it “a declaration of war by Brussels.” Salvini, leader of the far-right Lega party, accused the court of attempting to silence Le Pen and exclude her from French politics. “Those who fear the judgment of the voters are often reassured by the judgment of the courts,” he said in a statement.
Donald Trump Jr., the son of the former US president, also took to social media to condemn the decision, calling attention to the growing pattern of legal actions against right-wing leaders across the globe.
In a show of solidarity, Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders expressed his full support for Le Pen, pledging to back her through the appeal process. “I am shocked by the incredibly tough verdict against Le Pen,” Wilders wrote on social media. “I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France.”
Russia, too, weighed in on the controversy, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemning the decision as a politically motivated attack on democratic norms. “More and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms,” Peskov said, while asserting that Russia was not seeking to interfere in France’s internal affairs.
As the political storm continues to unfold, all eyes are now on whether Le Pen will successfully challenge the ruling and if her ban will have lasting consequences for her political career and the National Rally party’s future in French politics.
