Hungarian PM Orban backs Le Pen in face of potential five-year prison sentence

The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has expressed his support for Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party’s parliamentary group in France.

This comes as the Paris Prosecutor’s Office seeks to sentence her to five years in prison and bar her from holding any public office for an equivalent period, Caliber.Az reports, Orban made a statement on his X page.

I could not believe yesterday’s news about @MLP_officiel. Marine, please remember we are with you in this battle! And don’t forget: being harassed by the judiciary was a crucial step towards victory for President @realDonaldTrump.

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 14, 2024

 “I could not believe yesterday’s news about Marine Le Pen. Marine, please remember we are with you in this battle! And don’t forget: being harassed by the judiciary was a crucial step towards victory for President Donald Trump,” the Hungarian leader remarked.

Le Pen’s legal challenges have sparked debates over judicial impartiality and the role of political influence in court proceedings.

Notably, Paris prosecutors have sought a five-year prison term and a five-year ban from holding political office for Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), in a high-profile case concerning alleged illegal party funding. The ban, if imposed, would be effective immediately, preventing Le Pen from running for the presidency in 2027, even if her legal team appeals.

Le Pen, along with over 20 senior RN figures, stands accused of misusing European Parliament funds by hiring parliamentary assistants who were allegedly working for the party’s interests rather than for EU business. Rejecting the charges, Le Pen described the prosecution’s request as an “outrage” and an attempt to undermine the democratic choice of French voters.

Despite losing the 2022 presidential race to Emmanuel Macron, RN holds significant influence as the largest party in the National Assembly. The proposed sentence includes a €300,000 fine, though AFP reports that imprisonment might not be immediate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev