Marine Le Pen is the frontrunner for France’s presidential elections – but after a judge sentenced her to a 5-year ban from politics, she may be barred from running at all. If a judge can bar a leading candidate from running, is their country really a democracy?

On Monday, a French court sentenced Marine Le Pen to a 5-year political ban, finding her guilty of embezzling EU funds for her National Rally party. The immediate ban, upheld during appeals, will reportedly block her from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen called the ruling ‘authoritarian’ and claimed it violates the rule of law, and has vowed to fight the ruling.

According to CNN, “The court’s presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, said Le Pen’s actions amounted to a “serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.””

Jerome Riviere is a French politician, lawyer, and entrepreneur. He served as a Member of the French Parliament for Alpes-Maritimes from 2002 to 2007 and later joined the National Rally, becoming a Member of the European Parliament in 2019. He led the French delegation of the Identity and Democracy group until 2022, when he supported Éric Zemmour’s Reconquête party as Vice-President, leaving in 2023. More at https://x.com/jerome_riviere

Justin Gardner is the Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Active Skin Repair. With over 20 years in health and wellness, he has introduced over fifty innovative products to medical settings. His focus on Hypochlorous Acid led to Active Skin Repair, offering science-backed skin healing solutions. More at https://drdrew.com/skinrepair

「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at https://drdrew.com/sponsors 

• ACTIVE SKIN REPAIR - Repair skin faster with more of the molecule your body creates naturally! Hypochlorous (HOCl) is produced by white blood cells to support healing – and no sting. Get 20% off at https://drdrew.com/skinrepair

• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at https://drdrew.com/fatty15

• PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at https://drdrew.com/paleovalley

• THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at https://twc.health/drew

「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health.

「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」

Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (https://kalebnation.com) and Susan Pinsky (https://twitter.com/firstladyoflove). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices