Far-right vs. judiciary in EU

• High-profile court rulings targeting far-right figures in the European Union have sparked accusations of political persecution and calls for protest.

• The Paris Criminal Court’s verdict against Marine Le Pen in France, sentencing her for embezzlement of EU funds, has sparked a heightened conflict.

• In Romania, the Constitutional Court upheld a decision barring Călin Georgescu from running in the rescheduled May 2025 contest, citing alleged antidemocratic behavior, fraudulent campaign financing declarations, and links to Russian-backed subversion efforts.

• The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany has been classified as a suspected threat to democracy and the constitution by the domestic intelligence agency (BfV).

• The rulings have sparked swift and defiant reactions from targeted parties and their supporters.

• The rulings have sparked a wider debate within the EU concerning the meaning and application of the rule of law.

• Liberal and centrist forces, along with EU institutions like the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), maintain that adherence to the rule of law is fundamental to the Union’s values and legal order.

• Conservative-nationalist voices argue that the “rule of law” concept is being weaponised by Brussels and national elites to impose a specific political agenda, overriding national sovereignty and democratic mandates.

• Persistent concerns about foreign interference, particularly from Russia, have added to the complexity of the situation.

• The escalating clash leaves the principle of the rule of law in a precarious position, with trust in democratic institutions eroded when the judiciary is perceived as a political actor working against their chosen representatives.

• The erosion of trust poses a long-term challenge, as courts are increasingly seen as mere players in the political fray rather than guardians of constitutional principles.