Sir, – The ruling of France’s High Court of the Judiciary that declared Marine Le Pen ineligible for five years ought to raise serious questions about democracy in Europe (News, March 31st). One must wonder what the reaction would be if one of the main candidates (and likely frontrunner) in the next election were barred from running in Hungary, Turkey or even Russia? In addition, what would the reaction be if the barred candidate were from the opposite side of the political spectrum or in favour of further European integration?
That Marine Le Pen herself declared the ruling against her a “political decision” will not surprise many readers. But notably, even some Le Pen’s adversaries in France considered the ruling contrary to the normal functioning of democracy and the popular will. The left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon stated after the ruling “the choice to dismiss an elected official should only belong to the people”. Similarly, Lauren Wauquiez of the right-wing Les Républicains declared it would “weigh very heavily on the functioning of our democracy”.
It would therefore seem to be in the best interest of democracy that Marine Le Pen be allowed to run at the next election in France. It is equally important that this ruling not set an example to be followed across Europe or the world. – Yours, etc,
OWEN O’LOUGHLIN,
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