Exclusive-Brazil's Bolsonaro calls ruling against Le Pen 'judicial activism'

By Rodrigo Viga Gaier

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told Reuters on Monday that a court ruling that banned French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from seeking public office for five years was "left-wing judicial activism."

Le Pen on Monday was convicted of embezzlement in a watershed ruling that knocked her out of the 2027 presidential race unless she can win an appeal.

"This ruling is clearly left-wing judicial activism. Wherever the right-wing is present, the left and the system will work to get their opponents out of the game," Bolsonaro said in an interview.

"Here and in France, this is pure lawfare," he added. "It looks like this movement is spreading around the world. The left has found an easy way to perpetuate itself in power by using judicial activism."

Allies in France and far-right leaders from European countries, including Italy, Spain and the Netherlands joined in condemning the ruling as judicial overreach.

France's High Council of the Judiciary in a statement expressed its concern over what it called "virulent reactions" provoked by the ruling.

"Threats personally targeting the magistrates in charge of the case, just like statements by political leaders on the merits of the prosecution or the conviction, particularly during the deliberations, cannot be accepted in a democratic society," it said, calling for moderation.

Others applauded the ruling against Le Pen, saying the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law must be respected after the judge convicted her of misappropriating European Union funds to benefit her party. Citing an investigation, the judge described Le Pen as being "at the heart" of the scheme.

Brazil's Supreme Court last week ruled that Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government after he lost the 2022 election. If found guilty in the court proceedings, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.

He has denied any wrongdoing and denounced the case as politically motivated.

In 2023, Bolsonaro was barred from public office until 2030 for abuse of power ahead of the 2022 elections, when he summoned ambassadors to attack the legitimacy of Brazil's voting system.