Le Pen has distanced herself from the label of far right as she aims to mainstream her National Rally party and enhance her chances in elections. Known for her strong stance against immigration, she remains one of Europe’s prominent far-right figures.
Bruce highlighted U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s passionate address at the Munich Security Conference in February, where he criticized Europe for alleged infringements on free speech.
“As the West, we must do more than merely discuss democratic values; we must embody them,” she stated, echoing Vance’s sentiments. Vance has consistently denied acknowledging Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
During his speech in Munich, Vance took aim at Europe’s “old, entrenched interests,” accusing them of using terms like ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ reminiscent of the Soviet era to stifle dissenting viewpoints and undermine the chances of external candidates in elections.
“We uphold the right of all individuals to express their opinions in the public arena, whether in agreement or disagreement,” Bruce reiterated, reflecting Vance’s views.
Le Pen’s determination has garnered significant backing from other far-right leaders, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italian League party leader Matteo Salvini, and Dutch populist Geert Wilders.
Le Pen still has the option to appeal her sentence. If her appeal is unsuccessful, she faces a four-year prison term—two years of which are suspended, while the remaining two will be served under house arrest.
This story has been updated.
