Introduction
A judge in France is under police protection following death threats after she barred far-right leader Marine Le Pen from the 2027 presidential election. The head of the three-judge panel that found Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds, Judge Benedicte de Perthuis, had her home address shared online and has received threats, leading to increased security measures.
Context
De Perthuis's ruling has sparked significant reactions in France, with nearly 90% of Le Pen's National Rally supporters believing she was treated more harshly than other politicians, while over half of the public thinks she received a fair trial, according to an Odoxa poll published on Monday.
Le Pen's Position
- Prior to the ruling, Le Pen was the leading candidate for the upcoming election.
- She and her supporters have accused the French establishment of undermining her political ambitions through judicial interference, claiming it poses a threat to democracy.
Developments
Le Pen has distanced herself from the backlash against the judiciary and condemned the threats against de Perthuis, vowing to appeal her sentence legally.
Judicial Concerns
Christophe Soulard, the head of France's highest judicial court, stated in an interview that the threats reflect a weakening of democracy and highlight a troubling trend where judges are personally attacked, particularly on social media.
Support for De Perthuis
- Political figures have rallied support for de Perthuis and her colleagues, including Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin and the High Council for the Judiciary, both of whom condemned the threats.
- Mathilde Panot, leader of a far-left party in the National Assembly, called it unacceptable for a judge to require police protection and attributed the situation to the "methods of the far-right."
Conclusion
The situation surrounding Judge Benedicte de Perthuis highlights significant tensions within French politics and raises critical questions about the safety of judicial figures in a polarized environment.