Gérald Darmanin flies to his aid (in defiance of the law)

POLITICS – There is some support more surprising than others. In the wake of the announcement of the requisitions targeting Marine Le Pen in the case of the RN assistants (for which the prosecutor requested a sentence of ineligibility of five years with ” provisional execution “), the entire far-right party sang its favorite refrain, that of justice ” policy » to orders aimed solely at preventing the member of parliament for Pas-de-Calais from running for the 2027 presidential election.

More unusual, the former Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, also stepped up to the plate. “ It would be deeply shocking if Marine Le Pen were deemed ineligible and, thus, unable to stand before the vote of the French people”he wrote on the social network “ Fighting Madame Le Pen is done at the ballot box, not elsewhere. If the court judges that she must be condemned, she cannot be sentenced electorally, without the expression of the people », he continued, therefore validating the thesis of partial justice defended by the National Rally.

Automaticity

« Let us not be afraid of democracy and let us avoid widening, even further, the difference between the “elites” and the immense majority of our fellow citizens », Insists the deputy from the North, who therefore believes that a verdict should take into account electoral considerations. However, as soon as it was published, his tweet was the subject of a note from users of the social network. The object? Remind Gérald Darmanin of legal evidence. More precisely article 131-26-2 of the Penal Code, according to which the penalty of ineligibility is “ mandatory against any person guilty of an offense mentioned in II of this article “. And among the cases where the automaticity of this sentence applies: the embezzlement of public funds, precisely what Marine Le Pen is accused of.

More embarrassing for the former Minister of the Interior, this provision was introduced by the Sapin 2 law “ relating to transparency, the fight against corruption and the modernization of economic life” and entered into force in 2016. Which implies that it is not the magistrates who ultimately decide on the ineligibility of Marine Le Pen, but a law, moreover passed by Parliament (i.e. the national representation). Unsurprisingly, this position provoked an avalanche of reactions, particularly on the left, but not only. “ A big, embarrassing wink from someone who pretends to pity the woman whose electorate he dreams of winning back. In passing, a major breach of the principle of separation of powers and the implicit accusation of political justice. Nice combo », lamented the first secretary of the PS Olivier Faure.

Former mentor of the Northern MP, the president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand, also shot Gérald Darmanin live on RTL. “ He shouldn't have said that, especially a former Interior Minister.” he lashed out, before recalling a banality : “The law exists, it applies to everyone, including Madame Le Pen “. Minister in charge of relations with Parliament, Nathalie Delattre also criticized the exit of the deputy from the North. “I find it deeply shocking to comment on a court decision. There is a political time, there is a judicial time”she replied on Public Senate.

Also see on HuffPost: