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Leading far-right and nationalist figures rallied behind Marine Le Pen on Monday after a court sentenced her to a five-year ban from running for office.
Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orbán expressed his solidarity by posting “Je suis Marine!” in French on X, echoing the famous “Je suis Charlie” slogan used after the 2015 attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the ruling reinforced Moscow’s narrative that European governments were increasingly disregarding democratic principles.
The court’s decision disqualifies Le Pen from contesting the 2027 presidential election and handed her a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended. However, her lawyer confirmed she will appeal the ruling, which stemmed from allegations that she and other members of her National Rally (RN) party misused European Parliament funds to pay assistants who were actually working for the party.
Le Pen will not serve jail time, as the court ruled that the remaining two years of her sentence could be served under electronic monitoring. Nonetheless, the verdict sparked outrage among her supporters in France and abroad.
RN leader Jordan Bardella condemned the ruling as “unjust,” asserting that it amounted to an “execution” of French democracy. Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders also reacted strongly, saying he was “shocked” by the severity of the sentence and expressing full confidence in Le Pen’s ability to win her appeal and eventually become France’s president.
Spain’s far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal also voiced his support, declaring on X, “They will never succeed in silencing the voice of the French people.” Abascal had previously hosted Le Pen, Orbán, and other far-right leaders in Madrid in February.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who was convicted last month for defying Bosnia’s international peace envoy, claimed Le Pen’s verdict, like his own, was politically motivated rather than legally justified.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the ruling as a “declaration of war by Brussels,” comparing Le Pen’s case to political events in Romania. Salvini’s remarks referred to the recent electoral disqualification of Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu, whose presidential bid was blocked after allegations of Russian interference. Georgescu, who denies ties to Moscow, denounced his exclusion as an attack on democracy.
The ruling against Le Pen has intensified political divisions both within France and across Europe, with her allies portraying the verdict as an attempt to stifle opposition ahead of the 2027 election.
