Another Conservative Blocked From Ballot As European Courts Tighten Grip
French conservative Marine Le Pen has been taken out of the 2027 presidential race after a court handed her a two-year house arrest sentence and a two-year suspended sentence. The ruling also blocks her from holding public office for five years, removing her from contention just as she was gaining momentum in early polls.
The decision follows allegations that Le Pen and members of her party misused funds from the European Parliament by having aides do political work not related to their official duties. While Le Pen can appeal, the prohibition on running remains active during that process.
The prosecutions of every Populist Leader proves that Democracy is an illusion. pic.twitter.com/WmAAHH3aQy
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) March 31, 2025
Critics say this is the latest example of how courts across the globe are being used to silence conservative opposition. From Calin Georgescu in Romania to Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, legal systems are being deployed to strip candidates from the ballots rather than let voters decide.
When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents.
This is their standard playbook throughout the world. https://t.co/FgmgeyQ2rp
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025
President Donald Trump has faced similar tactics, though unlike his foreign counterparts, he managed to survive efforts to remove him from the 2024 race. Despite facing multiple indictments and even being taken off the ballot in Colorado before the Supreme Court reversed that ruling, Trump remains a contender.
BREAKING:
🇨🇵 French opposition leader is going to jail.
Marine Le Pen given two-year jail term.
She is also banned from holding public office for five years pic.twitter.com/o46DT9LheJ
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) March 31, 2025
In France, judges operate under an inquisitorial system, where they are allowed to investigate and rule in the same case. This has raised concerns about whether political pressure can shape outcomes behind closed doors without the checks found in other systems like that of the U.S.
Le Pen’s political movement, National Rally, has faced allegations similar to those lodged against centrist and left-wing parties. Yet, so far, only Le Pen and her colleagues have been convicted. Eight others were sentenced in the same case.
Le Pen has previously run for president three times and led her party for a decade.