Andrew Neil warns Marine Le Pen row ‘will not finish effectively for France’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Andrew Neil predicted that the row over Marine Le Pen “will not end well for the French political establishment”. The veteran journalist issued the warning after the far-right chief was discovered responsible of embezzling European funds to finance her National Rally celebration.

She has been barred from in search of public workplace for 5 years, which means she will be unable to run for the French presidency in 2027. She was additionally sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment, with two to be served below home arrest and two suspended.

In a submit on X, Mr Neil mentioned: “I suspect the jail sentence for Marine Le Pen plus banning her from running for president in 2027 (she is currently favourite in many polls) will not end well for the French political establishment.

“Even centrists and centre-right questioning aloud if the punishment has not been heavy-handed — and worry it’s going to rebound to the National Rally’s benefit.”

US tech billionaire Elon Musk also warned that the ban on Ms Le Pen from running for office would “backfire”.

He said on his X social media platform: “This will backfire, just like the authorized assaults in opposition to President Trump.

“When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents.

“This is their commonplace playbook all through the world.”

Ms Le Pen slammed the ruling a “political” move aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election.

She told French broadcaster TF1: “Millions of French people are outraged. In France, the country of human rights, judges have applied the laws of an authoritarian regime.

“This is a tragic day for our democracy, with millions of French people deprived of their candidate.”