US president says conviction of hard-Right leader was ‘another example of European Leftists using lawfare to silence free speech’

Summary

Donald Trump condemned France’s conviction of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, calling her four-year sentence and five-year political ban a “witch hunt” and likening it to his own legal battles.

Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling EU funds and plans to appeal.

Trump claimed the charges were politically motivated, calling them a “bookkeeping error” and urging France to “FREE MARINE LE PEN!”

He and allies like Elon Musk argue left-wing governments use the legal system to silence opponents. Le Pen’s National Rally party was fined $2 million.

  • x00z@lemmy.worldEnglish
    43·
    18 hours ago

    How is he aware of her bookkeeping?

    Was he doing it?

    I wouldn’t be surprised.

    • loutr@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      16·
      18 hours ago

      It’s just not a bookkeeping error, there are internal emails where they state that they wouldn’t be able to keep the lights on without paying their staff with our taxes.

        • loutr@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          12·
          17 hours ago

          Here you go. My translation of the email :

          During the upcoming years we will only make it if we make substantial savings thanks to the European parliament, and if we manage to get additional subsidies.

          • x00z@lemmy.worldEnglish
            5·
            17 hours ago

            Well I knew it wasn’t a bookkeeping error. I believe the opposite of what the orange man says by default.

            But I’m not aware about the actual fraud. They asked for more money when they already had enough money? The article you linked might translate wrong but they seem to be dismissing that email as proof.