Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the patriotic League party, sharply criticized the recent conviction and five-year election ban imposed on France’s Marine Le Pen, calling it :

a “declaration of war by Brussels.”

Salvini, a close ally of Le Pen and a prominent figure in Europe’s nationalist movement, condemned the ruling as a politically motivated attack against conservative voices.

A French court found Le Pen guilty of misusing EU funds, barring her from running in elections until 2028. Salvini denounced the decision, claiming it was an attempt by EU elites to silence opposition.

“This is not justice, it is persecution,”

he stated, framing the case as part of a broader effort to undermine anti-establishment leaders.

Salvini’s remarks highlight growing tensions between nationalist parties and EU institutions, with figures like Le Pen and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni facing legal and political challenges. His fiery rhetoric underscores the deepening divide between Brussels and patriots, who accuse the EU of overreach. The case could further galvanize anti-EU sentiment ahead of critical European elections, shaping the continent’s political landscape.