DISINFO: EU turns into anti-Russian bloc, cracks down on democracy
SUMMARY
The ruling elites in Europe, determined to turn the European Union into a military bloc focused on confronting Russia, have eagerly set about clearing their own political space. The case of Marine Le Pen in France is nothing less than a "murder of democracy." This case is just one piece of this long chain of political persecution, repression, and crackdowns that have been happening over the last few months and even longer.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that the EU is a dictatorship, as well as a intending to discredit the French justice system and President Emmanuel Macron. This claim was made in the context of the verdict in a court case in France involving far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
On 31 March 2025, Marine Le Pen was sentenced to two years under house arrest while wearing an electronic ankle bracelet and two more years of suspended sentence, as well as a five-year ban on running for public office, for embezzling EU funds. In France, there is no political immunity for people wishing to run in presidential elections. The judiciary operates independently and applies the law impartially, regardless of one's intentions to contest the presidency.
The European Union is primarily an economic and political union. Two of its members, Finland and Sweden, joined NATO in 2023 because of constant Russian security threats. There is no evidence of a systematic effort to suppress political opposition in the EU.
The allegation that the EU is a non-elected dictatorship is a recurring disinformation claim that has been debunked many times. The European Union is a democratic organisation, which is based on the rule of law and the respect for fundamental rights. Other European values include contested elections, free media, human dignity, equality, a functioning market economy and other fundamental democratic requirements.
The EU is governed by the principle of representative democracy, with citizens directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament and Member States represented in the European Council and the Council of the EU. A European citizen automatically enjoys political rights. Every adult EU citizen has the right to stand as a candidate and to vote in elections to the European Parliament. EU citizens have the right to stand as candidates and to vote in their countries of residence, or in their countries of origin.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Le Pen’s sentence shows that the EU has become a dictatorship, that France is a dictatorial regime: a main candidate could be jailed before the presidential elections, and that There is no democracy in Europe.