Megan Basham

But Ellen Fantini, managing editor of the European Conservative, told me that virtually every major party in Europe does this same kind of thing. She says that the way this conviction is being carried out makes it very clear that this is about sidelining Le Pen as a candidate.

But Ellen Fantini, managing editor of the European Conservative, told me that virtually every major party in Europe does this same kind of thing. She says that the way this conviction is being carried out makes it very clear that this is about sidelining Le Pen as a candidate.

Fantini compared it to the same kind of lawfare that Donald Trump experienced.

Fantini compared it to the same kind of lawfare that Donald Trump experienced.

Well, I'd say it's hard to overstate just how seismic this shift is. It's a huge setback for National Rally, which has been gaining ground as France's largest parliamentary party after last year's legislative elections. Now, Le Pen was poised to win the presidency as well. Fantini says she expects to see serious pushback from Le Pen supporters now.

Well, I'd say it's hard to overstate just how seismic this shift is. It's a huge setback for National Rally, which has been gaining ground as France's largest parliamentary party after last year's legislative elections. Now, Le Pen was poised to win the presidency as well. Fantini says she expects to see serious pushback from Le Pen supporters now.

And I'll add, you're even hearing some saying that French authorities are inviting civil war here.

And I'll add, you're even hearing some saying that French authorities are inviting civil war here.

Not much from those on the left, but those on the right are speaking out loudly. So on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted, «Je suis Marine. I am Marine». Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League Party, called the ruling a «declaration of war by Brussels», meaning the European Union establishment.

Not much from those on the left, but those on the right are speaking out loudly. So on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted, «Je suis Marine. I am Marine». Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League Party, called the ruling a «declaration of war by Brussels», meaning the European Union establishment.

Populist party leaders in the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, all of them are characterizing this as an attempt to stymie the success that the right has been experiencing across Europe. Many are comparing it to Colin Georgescu of Romania. He's another popular right-wing presidential candidate who a court just banned from running.

Populist party leaders in the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, all of them are characterizing this as an attempt to stymie the success that the right has been experiencing across Europe. Many are comparing it to Colin Georgescu of Romania. He's another popular right-wing presidential candidate who a court just banned from running.

Piantini also expects the Trump administration to weigh in here in support of Le Pen.

Piantini also expects the Trump administration to weigh in here in support of Le Pen.

Le Pen herself says she's a fighter and she says she is not going to allow the courts to eliminate her from this race.

Le Pen herself says she's a fighter and she says she is not going to allow the courts to eliminate her from this race.

Anytime.

Anytime.

Well, you know, on Saturday, we saw over 500 protests worldwide, everywhere from Australia to Germany to Chicago. And these turnouts were pretty mixed, I would say. You know, on one hand, in Michigan, you had what looked like... you know, fairly pitiful, small crowds, gray haired, maybe people in their 60s and 70s.

Well, you know, on Saturday, we saw over 500 protests worldwide, everywhere from Australia to Germany to Chicago. And these turnouts were pretty mixed, I would say. You know, on one hand, in Michigan, you had what looked like... you know, fairly pitiful, small crowds, gray haired, maybe people in their 60s and 70s.