Judge Faces Death Threats Amid Le Pen Controversy

The judge who convicted France’s Marine Le Pen now requires police protection after receiving numerous death threats in a case that has been denounced by conservatives as politically motivated.

Quick Takes

Judge Under Protection After Controversial Ruling

French authorities have assigned police protection to Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis following what French media described as “a large number of messages containing clearly expressed personal threats.” The threats emerged after de Perthuis sentenced National Rally leader Marine Le Pen to a four-year prison term for misappropriating European Parliament funds. The punishment includes two years suspended, two years under house arrest, a substantial €100,000 fine, and most significantly, a five-year ban that would prevent Le Pen from running in France’s next presidential election.

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the threats, stating, “The threats made against the magistrates of the Paris Judicial Court are unacceptable in a democracy and worrying for the independence of the judicial authority.”

Macron Defends Judiciary While Le Pen Cries Foul

President Emmanuel Macron has walked a careful line in addressing the controversy, emphasizing three key points through government spokesperson Sophie Primas: “that the judiciary is independent; that the threats made against judges are absolutely unbearable and intolerable; the law is the same for everyone.”

Le Pen and her supporters have characterized the ruling as politically motivated, with the right-wing leader specifically accusing Judge de Perthuis of making a “political decision.” This claim has resonated with international allies, including US President Donald Trump, who described the ruling as “a very big deal.” The timing of the ruling has raised eyebrows among conservatives, coming just as Le Pen’s National Rally party has been gaining significant momentum in French politics.

Legal Battle Not Over

While the current ruling would bar Le Pen from France’s 2027 presidential election, legal experts note that the ban could be overturned if an appeals court rules in her favor before summer 2026. This timeline has created significant debate about whether courts should enforce ineligibility bans immediately or wait for the appeals process to conclude. The controversy highlights tensions between judicial independence and perceived political interference in a country already experiencing growing polarization.