U.S. President Donald Trump has interfered in French politics with his tirade against the conviction of French far-right politician Marine Le Pen, France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou charged on Sunday.
In an interview with Le Parisien, Bayrou called Trump’s social-media defense of Marine Le Pen an example of interference. “Interference has become the law of the world,” he said.
“There are no longer any borders for major political debates. What happens [in France] is discussed in Washington,” Bayrou said.
Trump on Friday criticized the court decision that prevents Le Pen from running for French president. “They get her on a minor charge that she probably knew nothing about — sounds like a ‘bookkeeping’ error to me,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Le Pen’s four-year prison sentence for embezzling EU funds — two years of which are suspended — would be served under house arrest. The court ruling is under appeal.
Le Pen’s National Rally party has planned a demonstration in Paris on Sunday in support of her.
Bayrou also shed some light on the impact of the U.S. tariffs on the French economy.
“The risk of job losses is absolutely major, as is that of an economic slowdown and a halt to investment. The consequences will be significant: Trump’s policies could cost us more than 0.5 percent of GDP.”
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