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.

  • Amberskin@europe.pub
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    13 hours ago

    Please offer her asylum in the US.

    And extend that offer to Orban, Fico, Farage, Abascal, Weidel and the rest of fascist scum.

    • Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      Please please don’t. You’re setting great examples by putting them in prisons. Nobody anywhere needs American fascists getting reinforcements. It’s better for everyone that they be incarcerated, banned from public office, and their wealth seized. If they can be rehabilitated, fine. Maybe. Otherwise let them rot.

  • dwzap@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    French here. Donald, take care of your burning house before you step in ours.

  • tooLikeTheNope@lemmy.ml
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    14 hours ago

    He and allies like Elon Musk argue left-wing governments use the legal system to silence opponents

    That is a fine mental gymnastic there.

    I hope I’m not erring on the side of over-simplifying reality to make it abide to my limited mental capabilities to comprehend it, but more likely it is them, “He and allies like Elon Musk”, who by doing what they normally do are using the legal system to silence themselves.

    Rule of law 101

    • Aux@feddit.uk
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      13 hours ago

      What’s funny is that the French government is not “left-wing”.

    • Charlxmagne@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      They’re arguing that as if they’re not doing that exact thing themselves, as if they ain’t silencing their critics. Worst part is he’s disguising himself as a libertarian and someone who’s pro free-speech, when his ideas of libertarianism only extend to his govt. and cronies and his ideas of freedom of speech extend to his own views and his own supporters. He’s using the guise of being censored himself to censor literally anyone who opposes him.

    • uhmbah@lemmy.ca
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      13 hours ago

      “fine mental gymnastics”!?!?

      There’s a few American law firms that need to be listed here, just for starters.

      ‘Fine’, my ass

  • Vari@lemm.ee
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    16 hours ago

    Everything this idiot does, I look at through the eyes of the kremlin. That makes it make sense.

  • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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    15 hours ago

    trump must vouch for Le penne because she is also a russian asset, and putin will be disappointed of he doesnt.

  • Oliver@lemmy.midgardmates.com
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    17 hours ago

    In the Orange Goblin‘s world, why should criminals be prosecuted or sentenced instead of being pardoned? He should better deal with the mess he is creating at home and manage his own affairs.

    • Ginny [they/she]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      13 hours ago

      Wilhoit’s law.

      Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.

  • x00z@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    How is he aware of her bookkeeping?

    Was he doing it?

    I wouldn’t be surprised.

    • loutr@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day 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.works
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          1 day 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.world
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            1 day 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.

  • Freshparsnip@lemm.ee
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    1 day ago

    Since America has now set a precedent for letting criminals get away with shit if they run for office, I wanna see Luigi Mangione run for congress

  • Null User Object@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    He and allies like Elon Musk argue left-wing governments use the legal system to silence opponents.

    Every accusation is an admission.

    • myrmidex@slrpnk.net
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      1 day ago

      Ah yes, that left-wing government with a banker president. I guess everything is regarded as left by Trump.

    • mel@jlai.lu
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      1 day ago

      Macron left wing ? Best joke I heard in a long time XD As i understood she got immediate ineligibility because she claimed being innocent despite all the proofs showing she was the main administrator of this system of embezzlement (also, she advocated for years the use of ineligibility for politics accused of something during their mandate)

    • VeryInterestingTable@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      Also I’m pretty sure actual French Left-wing are not happy and do not like the precedent it sets. So pretty much the only party that is happy this happenned is the conservatives, but he is not going to say that is he?

  • Wanpieserino@lemm.ee
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    16 hours ago

    I mean, 3 million euros is literal peanuts. Do be aware that this is a politically charged witch hunt.

    One that fortifies the EU and weakens Russia.

    I’m all for that

      • Wanpieserino@lemm.ee
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        12 hours ago

        For a period of 12 years. Where the country generated a GDP of 32 trillion euros.

        That’s 0,0000125%.

        The hospital I work at requires this amount of money monthly to pay us wagies, excluding the doctors. We’re like 1300 employees.

        The 200 doctors earn as much as we 1300 employees.

        I’m not saying it wasn’t a misallocated fund, but the sheer amount is laughable.

        A drip in the bucket.

        The fact that she misallocated it, shows lack of integrity, and the amount is enough for us to call her out on it.

        We punish her mistakes. But the amount is nothing in the big picture.

          • Wanpieserino@lemm.ee
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            9 hours ago

            Oh for sure, guillotine her for all I care. But french folks like her 🤷🏻‍♂️ my french buddy voted for her instead of Macron.

            Personally I’d vote for Macron but I’m not french. If we could vote as EU citizens, I would vote for Macron

        • Mubelotix@jlai.lu
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          12 hours ago

          I get your point and she was fined a fair amount, in consideration of all this. It is important to remember though that the ineligibility isn’t a punishment, it’s a preventive measure so that she doesn’t steals more than she did

    • wronggermgerm@lemmy.cafe
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      15 hours ago

      Ah yeah you have no problem with the far-right, xenophobia or the fact she’s the daughter of a torturer or the head of a party founded by the Waffen SS.

      The only issue is that she borrowed money from russia

    • Obi@sopuli.xyz
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      1 day ago

      I think for this one we can dust off one of my old favourites: “va te faire enculer à sec avec du gravier”.