Unions and politicians condemn threats as Le Pen judge receives police protection

Record ID: 1987712

  • Title: Unions and politicians condemn threats as Le Pen judge receives police protection
  • Date: 2nd April 2025
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (APRIL 2, 2025) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PASSING BY VARIOUS OF EMPTY TABLES AT RESTAURANT VARIOUS OF STAFF CLEANING / POSTER ON WINDOW READING (Turkish): "OUR DOORS HAVE BEEN OPEN TO YOU FOR 45 YEARS, BUT OUR CASH REGISTERS WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2." VARIOUS OF SHOP OWNER FIKRET OZDEMIR PUTTING HERBS INTO FRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) SMALL SHO
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: France Le Pen conviction court far right judges
  • Location: PARIS AND HENIN-BEAUMONT, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS AND HENIN-BEAUMONT, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA004360602042025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: France's biggest magistrates' union on Wednesday (April 2) condemned threats made against the judge who barred far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running in France's 2027 presidential election.
    Benedicte de Perthuis, the head of a three-judge panel that found Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds, is under police protection after facing death threats and having her home address shared online, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. She is now receiving police protection at work and at home.
    Politicians of all sides should avoid criticising judges as it can legitimise threats, made worse by the anonymity provided by social media, the general secretary of the country's magistrates' union L'Union Syndicale des Magistrats Alexandra Vaillant said.
    Before Monday's (March 31) ruling, Le Pen was the front-runner for the 2027 vote. She and her allies at home and abroad have accused the French establishment of sabotaging her presidential ambitions, saying judges have caused a crisis for democracy by meddling in politics.
    Le Pen has denied stoking a backlash against the judiciary and has condemned the threats against de Perthuis. She has pledged to use legal means to overturn her sentence, by appealing the ruling.
    The threats against de Perthuis and other judicial officials involved in Le Pen's trial have prompted soul-searching in France about a current of populist discontent that is undermining faith in the country's justice system.
    Nearly 90% of Le Pen's National Rally (RN) supporters believe the court treated her more harshly than other politicians, while over half of French people believe she got a fair trial, according to an Odoxa opinion poll published on Monday.
    (Production: Noemie Olive, Johnny Cotton)
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