Doubts about Qatargate are a reminder that liberal establishments are using courts to delegitimize opponents in France and Israel, just as they did in the United States against Trump.
Lawfare is increasingly being used to undermine right-wing populist leaders worldwide, with recent events in France, Romania, and Israel highlighting this trend. In France, Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN) party and a frontrunner for the 2027 presidential race, was convicted of embezzlement under dubious legal grounds. Rather than being accused of personal financial gain, the case revolved around technicalities concerning whether RN staffers should have been paid by the European Parliament or by the party itself. The conviction included a five-year ban on running for office, which critics argue is a politically motivated attempt to prevent her from challenging the establishment.
A similar situation unfolded in Romania, where a right-wing party won national elections, only for the victory to be invalidated by the Central Election Bureau. The party’s leader, Călin Georgescu, was barred from running in the subsequent election under vague accusations of inciting actions against the constitutional order and promoting a fascist agenda. Critics claim these actions were a deliberate move to silence political opposition, particularly due to Georgescu’s controversial views on Russia and Ukraine.
Across Europe, the rise of nationalist and populist parties has been largely driven by concerns over mass immigration, which many believe is reshaping national identities and cultures. In some countries, such as Hungary, the Netherlands, and Italy, these parties have successfully entered government. In others, traditional liberal and centrist elites have worked aggressively to marginalize them. Germany’s AfD party has faced accusations of failing to distance itself from Nazi sympathizers, making it an easier target for political suppression. However, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the real reason for these parties’ growing popularity is their willingness to defend national borders and challenge the unchecked immigration policies supported by the left and center-right.