French Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis Faces Threats Following Conviction of Marine Le Pen
Judge de Perthuis, an experienced magistrate, sentences Le Pen to prison for embezzlement amid political backlash.
Bénédicte de Perthuis, a 63-year-old judge known for her expertise in financial cases, has become the subject of threats after her recent ruling in the high-profile trial concerning the Rassemblement National (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen.
On Monday, Judge de Perthuis delivered the verdict for 24 individuals, alongside the RN party itself, in relation to allegations of misappropriation of public funds involving parliamentary assistants.
In her measured tone, Judge de Perthuis explained the decisions made with her two assessors and detailed the rationale behind each condemnation.
She found Marine Le Pen guilty of public funds misappropriation, sentencing her to four years in prison—two of which are effective—and imposing a five-year ban on holding public office.
This verdict has potential implications for Le Pen's eligibility in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Following the announcement of these sentences, the French judiciary has faced disproportionate criticism, particularly from far-right factions.
The judge herself has reportedly received serious threats since the ruling, as indicated by various media reports.
Bénédicte de Perthuis has had an extensive career in the judiciary, influenced by the notable financial investigating judge Eva Joly.
She commenced her career approximately three decades ago, initially working at an auditing firm after obtaining a degree in accounting expertise.
At the age of 37, she passed the magistrate competition and began her judicial career as a family court judge in Le Havre.
Subsequently, she served as an investigative judge in Pontoise before moving to the 11th criminal chamber of the Paris tribunal, specializing in financial matters, where she later became the presiding judge.
Judge de Perthuis has presided over significant cases, including the sentencing of former Interior Minister Claude Guéant in 2015 for financial misconduct.
After returning to the role of investigating judge, she took over cases from the well-known judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke, who retired, including investigations into corruption allegations linked to the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Qatar.
Notably, Judge de Perthuis has never been affiliated with any union.
Following the trial of the RN assistants, she received death threats posted on an extreme-right website.
Throughout the proceedings, she rigorously questioned each defendant regarding their involvement in the misappropriation case.
Notably, during the final day of interrogations, she interrupted Marine Le Pen, who had diverged from the case details, stating, "Here, we are not in politics; we are in a court."
The political uproar surrounding the convictions poses challenges for the independence and respect of the judiciary in France, amidst ongoing discussions about judicial accountability and political interference.
On Monday, Judge de Perthuis delivered the verdict for 24 individuals, alongside the RN party itself, in relation to allegations of misappropriation of public funds involving parliamentary assistants.
In her measured tone, Judge de Perthuis explained the decisions made with her two assessors and detailed the rationale behind each condemnation.
She found Marine Le Pen guilty of public funds misappropriation, sentencing her to four years in prison—two of which are effective—and imposing a five-year ban on holding public office.
This verdict has potential implications for Le Pen's eligibility in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Following the announcement of these sentences, the French judiciary has faced disproportionate criticism, particularly from far-right factions.
The judge herself has reportedly received serious threats since the ruling, as indicated by various media reports.
Bénédicte de Perthuis has had an extensive career in the judiciary, influenced by the notable financial investigating judge Eva Joly.
She commenced her career approximately three decades ago, initially working at an auditing firm after obtaining a degree in accounting expertise.
At the age of 37, she passed the magistrate competition and began her judicial career as a family court judge in Le Havre.
Subsequently, she served as an investigative judge in Pontoise before moving to the 11th criminal chamber of the Paris tribunal, specializing in financial matters, where she later became the presiding judge.
Judge de Perthuis has presided over significant cases, including the sentencing of former Interior Minister Claude Guéant in 2015 for financial misconduct.
After returning to the role of investigating judge, she took over cases from the well-known judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke, who retired, including investigations into corruption allegations linked to the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Qatar.
Notably, Judge de Perthuis has never been affiliated with any union.
Following the trial of the RN assistants, she received death threats posted on an extreme-right website.
Throughout the proceedings, she rigorously questioned each defendant regarding their involvement in the misappropriation case.
Notably, during the final day of interrogations, she interrupted Marine Le Pen, who had diverged from the case details, stating, "Here, we are not in politics; we are in a court."
The political uproar surrounding the convictions poses challenges for the independence and respect of the judiciary in France, amidst ongoing discussions about judicial accountability and political interference.
