“More and more European capitals are going down the path of trampling over democratic norms. Of course, we do not want to interfere in France’s internal affairs, we have never done so… But in general, our observations of European capitals show that they are not at all reluctant to go beyond democracy during the political process.” Dmitry Peskov
“I know all about it and a lot of people thought she wasn’t going to be convicted for anything. She was banned for five years and she was the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country.” Donald Trump
“I don’t know Marine Le Pen, but do appreciate how hard she worked for so many years. She suffered losses, but kept on going, and now, just before what would be a Big Victory, they get her on a minor charge that she probably knew nothing about – Sounds like a ‘bookkeeping’ error to me. It is all so bad for France, and the Great French People, no matter what side they are on.” Donald Trump
“[Marine Le Pen] is leading in some sociological surveys and they are trying to put her in prison for a very minor charge, which, by the way, concerns her employees, not Marine Le Pen herself. They want to put her in prison and remove her from the elections. Is this democracy?” JD Vance
“When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world [sic].” Elon Musk
“Je suis Marine!” Viktor Orban
“No one who truly believes in democracy can rejoice over a sentence that strikes the leader of a major party down, depriving millions of citizens of their representation.” Giorgia Meloni
“I am shocked by the incredible [sic] tough verdict against [Marine Le Pen]. I support and believe in her for the full 100% and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France.” Geert Wilders
“The choice to dismiss an elected official should only belong to the people.” Jean-Luc Mélanchon
“Those who fear the judgment of the voters often find reassurance in the judgment of the courts. In Paris they condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to exclude her from political life. A bad film that we are also seeing in other countries such as Romania.” Matteo Salvini
