New Tensions in French Politics: Protests in Support of Far-Right Leader Marine Le Pen, Support from Trump and Musk

New Tensions in French Politics: Protests in Support of Far-Right Leader Marine Le Pen, Support from Trump and Musk

April 1, 2025: A court in France has convicted far-right leader Marine Le Pen on corruption charges, banning her from participating in elections for five years. This ruling has caused widespread political stir worldwide, particularly among former U.S. President Donald Trump and his associate, Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

Elon Musk, who was a key figure in the Trump administration, stated, "This will have the opposite reaction to the legal attacks on Trump. When radical leftists can't win in democratic elections, they want to use the legal system to imprison their opponents. This is their usual game worldwide."

Donald Trump also commented on Le Pen's sentence, saying, "This is a big deal. But she has been banned from running for five years, and she was one of the main candidates. It sounds just like our country."

In addition to Musk's comments, other right-wing leaders around the world, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italy's Matteo Salvini, and the Netherlands' Geert Wilders, have expressed their support for the ruling. Orbán voiced his support with the slogan "Je suis Marine!" (I am Marine), drawing a comparison to the "Je suis Charlie" slogan after the 2015 Paris attacks.

Marine Le Pen has transformed her party, National Rally, into a strong political force and positioned herself as the leading candidate for the 2027 French presidential election. However, the court’s ruling bans her from contesting for the presidency, potentially marking the start of a new shift in French politics.

Right-wing politician Geert Wilders from London expressed his support against Le Pen's conviction, saying, "I 100% support her and believe she will win on appeal and become the President of France."

Le Pen’s lawyer, Rodolphe Bostelut, stated that he was surprised by the harshness of the ruling and confirmed that an appeal will be filed. "I am shocked by the extremely harsh ruling against Marine Le Pen," he said.

A petition has been launched by Le Pen’s party, stating, "This is no longer a government of judges, but a one-party rule of judges who want to silence the French people's voice."