“Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who is unfairly judged: it is the French democracy that is executed,” writes Jordan Bardella, party leader for the French outer right National Collection, on X after the verdict against the party’s front figure.
The verdict has also aroused reactions outside France. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán showed his support for Le Pen in a post on X.
“I’m Marine,” he writes on the platform.
Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that the verdict is a “overflow against democratic norms”, according to Reuters. Geert Wilders, leader of the Netherlands right -wing extremist party, also believes that the verdict is “extremely tough”.
“I trust that she will win the appeal and become the President of France,” Wilders writes on X.
“A witch hunt”
Among the French, the reactions are mixed. When the broadcaster France Télévision speaks to people on the streets of Hénin-Beaumont, some say that the law applies equally to everyone. Others see the judgment as politically motivated:
– It’s a bit of a witch hunt. Macron does what he can to sabotage, says a man.
Is sentenced to jail for fraud
Marine Le Pen is sentenced for fraud to four years in prison, EUR 100,000 in fines and a ban to run for public office for 5 years with immediate effect, which jeopardizes her candidacy for the presidential election in 2027.
Le Pen’s lawyer announces on Monday afternoon that they will appeal the verdict.
– We will appeal. I am quite disturbed. This is absolutely incredible, says her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut according to TT.