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Last month, Vice President JD Vance denounced European countries last month for their lack of commitment to democracy, as many people denounced legal attacks on populist leaders.
But Vance’s criticism applies to more than Europe as populist leaders around the world face legal challenges from a total election ban to a criminal conviction.
This is the top populist leaders facing the most pressure.
1. Marine Le Pen, France
Right-wing French politician Marine Le Pen and several members of her Ascendant National Rally Party were convicted of embezzlement on Monday, and she herself was banned from running the 2027 presidential election.
Populist leaders across Europe condemned the verdict and pointed out her important lead in the polls.
“People who fear voters’ judgments often seek relief from the courts. In Paris, they want to condemn Marine Le Pen and drive her out of political life,” Italian deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said following Le Pen’s ruling.
“We’re not being threatened,” he added. “Full speed ahead, my friend!”
Romania blocks the first round of presidential votes won by right-wing candidates
French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty in a Paris court and was banned from office for five years. (AP News)
2. Jer Bolsonaro, Brazil
The Brazilian Supreme Court last week accepted accusations against former President Jea Bolsonaro, who is allegedly accused of trying to serve in office after ordering his former leader to trial after losing the 2022 election.
All five judges supported accepting the charges levelled by prosecutor Paulo Gonette, who accused him of attempting a coup that included a scheme to poison his successor, President Louise Inacio Lula da Silva.
Former Brazilian President Jea Bolsonaro arrives for a luncheon with a senator from his support base in the Brazilian National Conference building on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
The former president repeatedly denied fraud and says he is being politically persecuted.
Brazilian law states that convicts of a coup are sentenced to a maximum of 12 years. When combined with other fees, you could face decades behind the bar.
3. Karin Georgek of Romania
Karin Georgek won the first round of Romania’s presidential election earlier this year, but the election will only be cancelled due to allegations of Russian conspiracy in Georgek’s favor.
Georgescu was then detained and was subsequently banned from running in elections despite leading the polls.
Romanian far-right president frontrunner has been detained after JD Vance’s responsibility for the European elections
Calin Georgescu is banned from running for Romanian president despite leading the polls. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
4. Matteo Salvini, Italy
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Salvini faced years of legal troubles due to accusations of illegally detaining about 100 immigrants during his term as Home Affairs Minister in 2019.
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In the 2019 incident, migrants were detained offshore on humanitarian rescue ships. An Italian court dropped the charges against Slavini in December.
“It’s not a crime to protect our country’s borders from smugglers,” Salvini said shortly after the verdict. “This is a victory for the league and Italy.”
5. Imran Khan, Pakistan
Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was jailed last month for corruption, but many of his supporters compared his situation to President Donald Trump’s situation with the charges he faced.
A Pakistani court sentenced Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 and 7 years in prison after committing corruption. They were convicted of allegedly accepting the land as bribri through the Arkadir Trust, which Khan set up while in office. However, Khan maintains his innocence and describes the event as a “witch hunt” in an exclusive comment to Fox News Digital. It’s just one of the over 100 cases he faces.
President Donald Trump greets then-Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House. (AP Photo/Jaclyn Martin)
Kern’s light-making is highlighted by longtime Trump ally and advisor Richard Grenell.
6. United States of America Donald Trump
President Donald Trump is facing a wave of legal trouble from political opponents that date back to his first administration to nearly a decade.
First he was confronted with allegations of Russian conspiracy, again facing ammunition each to negotiate Ukrainian aid. Upon leaving office, the federal and state governments targeted business transactions in the investigation and ultimately convicted him of forging business records, his allies say they are fake.
President Donald Trump will be seen at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Monday, April 15th, 2024.
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Trump acknowledges populist leaders like him face challenges around the world. He described Le Pen’s “very important” situation in a statement Tuesday.
“She was banned for five years and she was a major candidate,” Trump said. “It sounds like this country. It sounds like this country.”
Fox News’ Avi Kumar, Benjamin Weinthal and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter for Fox News Digital, covering national politics and major broken news events. Submit your tip to anders.hagstrom@fox.com or via Twitter: @hagstrom_anders.
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