A bombshell judgment on Marine Le Pen

Unlock the editor’s digest in free

FT editor Raula Khalaf selected his favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Candling the judges to be very soft towards the criminals is the main point of an organization for France’s far right politicians. Monday, they need a different line of offensive. A Criminal Court in the Paris has imposed the most severe punishment for their leader Marine Le Pen for embezzling EU funds. Le Penn was sentenced to two years in prison – or wearing at least one electronic tag – two more suspended, € 100,000 fine and ban on racing in the office with instant impact Five yearsThe Although he will appeal, the ban has been severely threatened by Le Pen’s prayer for the 2027 presidential election – which was his fourth bid for the LC Palace and perhaps the most perhaps.

Lee penIts allies attacked the rigid sentence as an aggressive judicial over-rich. The court not only convicted the leader of the “Rasmbent” National Party, but also “executed” French democracy, washed away Jordan Burdella. Celebrating population leaders across Europe were shocked. Kremlin expressed concern over the decay of democratic standards. What is even more surprising is that even some of the strict political enemies of France’s Le Pen have condemned the court to deprive the voters’ right to choose.

The court, however, was working to support the rules of conduct in the elected office. The EU and the French authorities launched an investigation into the demand for embezzlement by RN officials a decade ago. Prosecutors have combined enough evidence that nine former lawmakers and their assistants have consciously and regularly abuse more than $ 4 million of the European Parliament Fund for French political activities. Le Pen has played a central role in fraud since the 20th, The The court has been foundThe The politicians of the Centist Modeme Party were convicted of the same crime before.

The question is to exclude Le Pen from future elections, and even if his application is pending, a fair punishment. It wasn’t automatic. By giving the court verdict, the presiding judge in Bendict was noted that the punishment had to be proportional. Given Le Pen’s role in fraud in electoral politics for his party, the judge reached the conclusion that it was. He also legally argued that if Le Pen was able to escape the punishment by winning the post of President, the court would be reluctant to keep a punishment. In a nutshell, the court has decided that the rights of all French voters have exceeded a subset’s right to vote for a particular candidate.

Nevertheless, its political action Lee Pen’s Deberring May be far -reaching. He is sure to imitate Donald Trump to depict himself as a victim of an organization’s conspiracy, hoping to dismiss his supporters and to win over President Emmanuel Macron and other voters with mainstream parties. The Trump administration could strengthen France to reduce democratic rights, as Romania had excluded a far -right presidential candidate. However, the court convicted Le Pen against the Romanian case.

Lee Penn Centist’s led by minority government can take revenge Franois BayrouThe As the leader of the modem, he was acquitted for his party’s EP fund scandal, but prosecutors were appealing to the decision. Even if Le Pen’s legal application fails, RN can still be stronger under Bardella. There is a lack of experience in the Lead Pen, but there is also a record of failure to promote his president.

Lee Pen’s incompetence will make French politics more fuel. However, making political decisions in any way is not the work of the court. The allegation of doing so shows how much respect for the rule of law as a fundamental principle of democracy has weakened throughout the West.