Asger Risom
The French magistrate faced a wave of explicit threats after handing down the controversial ruling that bars Le Pen from public office
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In the wake of Marine Le Pen’s high-profile conviction for embezzling EU funds, the presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, has been placed under police protection following “explicit personal threats,” as reported by HotNews.ro.
French police have stationed patrols outside her residence, after the magistrate reportedly received numerous threatening messages. De Perthuis led the three-judge panel that sentenced the far-right leader to four years in prison—two suspended, two eligible for house arrest—along with a €100,000 fine and a five-year ban from holding public office.
Legal fallout and political backlash
Marine Le Pen has appealed the sentence but has simultaneously launched a vigorous campaign to frame the ruling as politically motivated. Speaking to TF1, Le Pen said, “The rule of law has been totally violated,” claiming that the verdict was not just a legal decision but “a political one.”
France’s Attorney General, Remy Heitz, swiftly defended the court’s independence, stating that the ruling was made “according to the law, by applying texts voted by national representation.” Heitz denounced Le Pen’s accusations as “completely excessive” and called the threats against the judge “unacceptable in a democracy.”
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French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin echoed these concerns, warning that attacks on judicial figures endanger the independence of the judiciary.
RN’s counteroffensive and international reactions
The verdict has intensified tensions within France and triggered international responses. RN President Jordan Bardella decried the “tyranny of judges” and announced plans for peaceful mobilizations, comparing the current political climate in France to that of Romania—where a far-right candidate was disqualified from presidential elections.
Bardella insisted that the court’s decision disenfranchised “millions of French voters,” reiterating his support for Le Pen and vowing “total loyalty” should he be called to lead in her place.
The Paris court found that between 2004 and 2016, a “system” was established to divert funds from the European Parliament to pay party staff under the guise of MEP assistants. Le Pen’s party, the National Rally (formerly the National Front), was among the 24 entities and individuals convicted. The total embezzled sum reached €4.4 million, of which €1.1 million has been reimbursed.
With Le Pen currently barred from running in the 2027 presidential race, her appeal process will be closely watched—not only in France but across a Europe increasingly shaped by rising right-wing populism.
