The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, expressed his full support for French opposition leader Marine Le Pen, strongly condemning what he called the instrumentalisation of the judiciary against political opponents.

Dodik commented on the recent ruling by the Paris court, which found Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds, sentencing her to four years’ imprisonment, two of which to be served with an electronic bracelet. The decision also sanctioned her ineligibility for five years, preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election.

“We are witnessing an abuse of justice to eliminate political rivals. Marine Le Pen is the victim of a judicial campaign aimed at excluding her from electoral competition. This is not democracy, but a dangerous authoritarian drift,’ Dodik said in an official statement.

The Bosnian Serb leader stressed how such practices undermine trust in democratic institutions and called on the international community to pay attention to what is happening in France. “When the judiciary becomes a political tool, democracy is in danger. What is happening to Marine Le Pen could happen to anyone who dares to challenge the establishment,” he added.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National and a leading figure of the French right, has always denied the charges and announced her intention to appeal. However, the ruling remains in place until a possible review by a higher court.

Dodik’s support is part of a broader context of international solidarity with Le Pen, with several conservative and Eurosceptic political leaders and movements criticising the French court decision. Among them, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini have expressed their closeness to the French politician.

The situation continues to provoke debate and tensions in France and Europe, with accusations of political interference in judicial processes and restriction of democratic freedom. It now remains to be seen what the political consequences of this affair will be in view of the upcoming elections.