With this damning of Le Pen, France can be the ‘anti-Trump’. It’s a bold path others should follow | Alexander Hurst

R.The French justice system chose the courage to surrender. The law was clear, as well as the court to judge it: No special treatment for PenninThere is no respect for the powerful, it is not used as a nomination for positions as an excuse to break the law without punishment.

For more than a decade, from 2004 to 2016, the right-wing Le Pen-the national name until 2018, when Rassamplement National (RN)-became an organized plan for public funds by establishing parliamentary and smell jobs in the European Party, and breaking other financial rules, in its impact on European public funds to celebrate the time of money. Under the French Anti -Corruption Law, which was issued in 2016, the guilty ruling against Le Pen comes with a penalty of inaccuracy to run for positions. The ban over the next five years, actually immediately, which means that the sentence will keep it through the appeal process and will definitely be Torbid any opportunity Who nominated her for the presidency in 2027.

Many will see the similarities between RN’s response to this ruling and the way Donald Trump rose the anger of his base last summer, after a court in New York I found it guilty One of the plan for criminal silence during the 2016 elections. In fact, Jordan Barilla, the 29 -year -old Caliph, is likely to Le Pen (who led RN during unexpected legislative elections in the summer), already plays the victim’s card, advertisement French democracy was “killed.”

There are a number of important differences. First, this is a more dangerous issue and condemnation than those against Trump: the boost of silent money may appear, but this involves more than a decade of defrauding the audience from millions of euros and had real effects on French policy. During the time when embezzlement was, Fn/RN was very debtor To a Russian bank connected to the Kremlin. The payment of the debts helped the party to demand that it no longer retains inappropriate ties with the Energy Department of Vladimir Putin – could she do so without mismanagement money? Was it a competitive in the elections that touched it without an unfair advantage of fraudulent financial affairs?

Second, with Loub itself not qualifying to run in 2027, an angry base will have to transfer her support to Bardela or another potential competitor. As it may be expected, many on the right are immediate Broken By announcing that the political “isolating” must be “left to people.” The Communist Party, Greens and Socialism, stressed, in various statements, the importance of the rule of law and judicial independence.

We will never know what would have happened if the justice system in the United States would not completely fail in protecting the rule of law from attempting to coup. On the other hand, we know consequences no Chargé d’Affaires: destroying the rule of law and the ability of the state, creation Parallel From the privileges and privileges of proximity to political power, and sliding towards an explicit art.

But the law cannot be a substitute for politics, and the next judgment must be political. The extreme right must be to face its contradictions. The voters tells that the government is full of corrupt elites, or that immigrants steal social benefits – however, there is Le Pen and 24 other members in RN, who were convicted of the huge fraudulent use of public funds. It requires a more severe judgment than the courts, then plays the victim when he is delivered harsh sentences. He speaks superficially the language of strength, but what you really offer is weakness and submission – to Putin, to Trump. This ruling does not seem to change the extremist right message or strategy; He was always demanding the victim at the hands of “elites”. But here, in this third contradiction – what are the parties really We are What their vision is to reshape society – that there is a greater opportunity to overcome it politically.

RN does not hide any company you keep and attract. The French court’s ruling has been criticized by such bases in the rule of law Kremlin (“Violation of democratic rules”), Elon Musk (of course), from I was denounced “Abuse” of the judicial system, and VikTor Orbán, Those who were published: “Je suis marine!” exactly. Marine Urban. Putin Navy. Trump naval.

By trying to link their non -liberal behavior across the border, the reactionary oaths gave defenders of liberal democracy the book of play to follow up. It is strange that there are few European politicians who have seen the explosive benefit in putting themselves as a kind of “Trump’s fight”, as did the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carne, did, To this effectAlthough his country is more likely to be more likely to American aggression than most of Europe. Perhaps, in fact, this weakness allowed him to see the risks more clearly – or at least, To be more honest About them with the Canadian public.

in Playing from February48 % of the French people said, “Nothing moves in democracy, there must be less democracy and more effectiveness,” said 48 % of the French people. I don’t think people In reality She wants less democracy, though; I think they want to feel that someone stands and fights for him, and it is time for liberal democracy to defend himself like her critics against her. Trams is the ideal chips, partly because they are very unpopular with European voters, who see it at work and support for the European Union More than everIncluding broad popular support (Even in the United Kingdom) To European Defense Union.

When it comes to RN, the application is linked to the same party. In 1936, Journalist asked Philip Betten, the French general and the Battle of Verdon, what the nation needs. “Rassamplement National,” (national gathering) Betin, who, after only four years, answered his country to the Nazis and leads his cooperation government Vichy.

In the United States, the legal system presented the idea that seeking justice and defending the rule of law would disturb “unity”. in FranceIt is not. I think we will find the courage will eventually come to the courage.

• Alexander Hurst, a column writer in the guardian of Europe

• Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you want to provide a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered to be published in our Messages Please section Click here.