The Guardian View on the Marine Le Pen verdict: no politician is above the law | Editorial
ANDMmanuel Macron’s troubled second -hand mandate was already destined to descend as one of the most turbulent in the history of the fifth French Republic. A succession of first ministers arrived and left At dizzying speed. A snap election last July, shocly called by Mr Macron in the hope of seeing the Rally National Fine Right (RN) by Marine Le Pen, almost catapulted It in power. None of that drama, however, has retired the coupe de theater delivered on Monday in a courtroom rather than a voting cabin.
THE decision From the judges of Paris to prohibit Le Pen to be in office for five years, after having judged it to be guilty of embezzlement of public funds while a MEP, has spectacular a political landscape dominated by the extreme right threat in a spectacular way. In view of the presidential elections of 2027 – in which Mr. Macron cannot be performed – Le Pen had become the candidate to beat, using his experience to exploit the deepening of the discontent with the political mainstream. On a real bomb moment, now it seems likely that a substitute – probably his young protected, Jordan BardellaWhich is still 30 years old – will be obliged to intervene.
At a time when the rule of law is mined From the populist leaders who consider an independent judiciary as a threat, the verdict of the judges has developed a necessary and healthy line in the sand. Although it will appeal against the ban, Le Pen has been caught with the rights. By showing characteristic contempt for the institutions of the European Union, as well as for the money of taxpayers, she and her compensation has illegally subtracted about 4.5 million euros (3.8 million pounds) to feed the internal increase of their party between 2004 and 2016. A false work system, with Mr. Pen to heart, facilitated by a scale of industrial appropriation. Starting from its elections as MEP and continuing once it became the leader of the party, she deserved an exemplary punishment.
The political consequences of the Court’s decision, although undoubtedly seismic, are more difficult to read. The fines imposed on thern will do serious damage to his finances and the ability to do a campaign. But inevitably, a narration of martyrdom will now be deployed to strengthen the anti -stablishing credentials of the far right. To the immediate consequence of the ban on Mr. Le Pen, Bardella launched himself that the fact that French democracy had been “executed” by a “unfair” verdict “. Between assorted messages of far -right solidarity, Elon Musk was predictably To the limelight, echoing the same theme.
Between the sections of an electorate who already take a highly jaundiced The vision of the government elites, interpreting the victim could produce political dividends. But those accused of providing justice in liberal democracies cannot worry about such calculations. The current level of the political support of Mrs. Le Pen does not place it above the law, nor was it appropriate that he would carry out any part in the reasoning of the judges. A leader willing to facilitate systematic corruption in political processes for more than a decade deserves to give up the right to seek the honor of his country’s highest office.
They are certain more twists. It is still possible, although unlikely, that a series of successful appeals will allow Mrs. Le Pen a way to return to the presidential race. If, on the other hand, the main member of the most famous extreme European right dynasty has blown its possibility of power, he only has herself to blame.
