French President Emmanuel Macron has risen to defend judicial independence as threats mount against the judge who sentenced far-right leader Marine Le Pen to a four-year prison term and barred her from the next presidential election.
Top Takeaways
- Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis, who ruled against Le Pen, now requires police protection due to death threats.
- Le Pen has been sentenced to four years (two suspended, two under house arrest), a €100,000 fine, and a five-year ban from elections for embezzling European Parliament funds.
- President Macron emphasized judicial independence and that “the law is the same for everyone.”
- Le Pen’s allies, including Donald Trump, have criticized the ruling as politically motivated.
- Le Pen could potentially overturn her election ban if an appeals court rules in her favor before summer 2026.
Judge Under Police Protection Following Ruling
French authorities have deployed police patrols outside the home of Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis following her controversial ruling in the Marine Le Pen embezzlement case. According to French media, the judge has received “a large number of messages containing clearly expressed personal threats.” The decision to station officers at her residence underscores the volatile response to the verdict that has effectively sidelined France’s most prominent right-wing political figure from the next presidential race.
The embattled judge handed down a sentence that includes two years of actual imprisonment to be served under house arrest with electronic monitoring, two years suspended, a substantial €100,000 fine, and most significantly, a five-year ban from holding public office. This punishment stems from Le Pen’s conviction for misappropriating European Parliament funds by using EU money to pay for national party staff between 2004 and 2016.
Macron Defends Judicial Independence
President Emmanuel Macron, responding to the growing political turmoil, has taken a firm stance on the independence of France’s judicial system. Through his spokesperson Sophie Primas, Macron emphasized three critical points: “that the judiciary is independent; that the threats made against judges are absolutely unbearable and intolerable; the law is the same for everyone.”.
Macron also pointedly noted that all defendants in France have the right to appeal their convictions, acknowledging Le Pen’s legal options while avoiding direct commentary on the specifics of her case. This measured response reflects the delicate political balance Macron must maintain as the nation grapples with the implications of the ruling.
International and Domestic Backlash
The conviction has sparked fierce criticism from Le Pen’s political allies both domestically and internationally. US President Donald Trump weighed in, calling the situation “a very big deal” and suggesting the ruling was politically motivated. Within France, Le Pen herself has characterized Judge de Perthuis’s decision as purely “political,” further inflaming tensions between her National Rally party and the judiciary.
France’s Prosecutor General Rémy Heitz has joined the chorus of officials condemning the threats, emphasizing that personalized attacks against judges undermine the foundations of democratic justice. The situation has created a stark divide in French society, with Le Pen’s supporters viewing the case as judicial persecution while others see it as a necessary application of the law against corruption.
Potential Path to Political Redemption
Despite the severity of the sentence, Le Pen’s political career may not be entirely finished. Legal experts note that her five-year ban from holding public office could potentially be overturned if an appeals court rules in her favor before summer 2026, which would allow her to participate in the 2027 presidential election. This timeline has intensified debate over whether courts should enforce ineligibility bans immediately or wait for the appeals process to conclude.
The case has exposed fundamental tensions in France’s legal and political systems, particularly regarding the appropriate balance between swift justice and defendants’ rights. As Le Pen prepares her appeal, the controversy continues to highlight deep divisions in French society over the role of the judiciary in political matters and the limits of political speech when discussing court decisions.
Sources:
- Le Pen judge placed under police protection after receiving ‘personal threats’
- Macron weighs in on Le Pen verdict for first time: ‘The law is the same for everyone’
- ‘The law is the same for everyone’: Macron addresses Le Pen verdict for first time and criticises threats against judges – as it happened
