French Politician Jordan Bardella on Le Pen ban:

"This is the execution of French democracy."

Bardella is likely to take her place as the party's candidate for 2027 election.

Italian Politician Matteo Salvini on Le Pen ban:

This is a declaration of war from Brussels.

European stock markets: Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan drop over 2% by mid-session after Le Pen ban by French court.

Commander of IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh:

Those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones — the Americans have at least 10 bases with 50,000 troops in the region.

It’s as if they’re sitting in a glass room.

Far-Right Leader Leads Romania’s Presidential Polls

George Simion, head of the far-right AUR party, tops a new poll ahead of Romania’s presidential election with 31.7% support, surpassing rivals:

PSD (ruling party): 21.2%
Victor Ponta (ex-PM): 21.1%
Nicușor Dan (Bucharest Mayor): 20.8%

Key Points on Simion:

Pushes to restore Romania’s pre-WWII borders, including claims on parts of Moldova, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

Banned from Ukraine for nationalist rhetoric.

Criticizes mainstream politicians but remains pro-EU—for now.

Far-right candidate Calin Georgescu was barred from the May election due to electoral violations. His 2024 win was overturned over Russian interference and illegal campaign funds.

Source: Reuters

CONTEXT: Marine Le Pen Found Guilty in EU Funds Embezzlement Case

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, was found guilty today, in a major embezzlement case involving EU funds misused between 2004 and 2016.

Embezzlement: The EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) found that Marine Le Pen misused €136,994 in EU funds, while her father Jean-Marie Le Pen diverted over €303,000.

A Paris court later estimated the total damages at €2.9 million. Investigators allege Le Pen oversaw the misappropriation of up to €3.7 million.

• Conviction: Le Pen and 20 others, including MEPs and aides, misused EU money meant for parliamentary staff.

• Sentence: 4 years in prison (2 suspended via electronic monitoring), €100,000 fine.

• Political Ban: Barred from running for office for 5 years—effectively ending her 2027 presidential bid.

• Party Fine: National Rally fined €2 million.

🇫🇷 Bardella to Step In as Le Pen Barred from 2027 Race

With Marine Le Pen convicted of embezzlement and banned from public office for five years, National Rally President Jordan Bardella is now widely seen as the party’s likely candidate for France’s 2027 presidential election.

• Bardella, Le Pen’s 28-year-old protégé, has led the RN since 2022 but remains less prominent nationally.

• With Le Pen sidelined, Bardella must now fill the void and build his own public profile ahead of 2027.

• Bardella is now about to be the far-right’s de facto leader and a "shadow president" in opposition strategy.

NEW: There should be some kind of deadline for Russia accepting a ceasefire in Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said after a foreign ministers' meeting in Madrid.

Three of the four American soldiers lost in Lithuania have been found dead. The search for the last one continues.

Brazil's Bolsonaro:

Situation faced by Le Pen mirrors what I am going through here.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico: von der Leyen called me idiot

“Today, I had a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

We discussed two topics. The first was the tariffs imposed against us [Europe]. She absolutely tore into me:

— Robert, what have you done? Why on earth did you negotiate with Trump like that? Are you out of your mind?

She berated me for half an hour… calling me a complete idiot.”

China, Japan and South Korea have reached a consensus that the countries will jointly respond to US tariffs.

Source: Chinese state media

Iranian MP Ahmad Naderi:

Observing Trump's behavior and rhetoric in his first term toward North Korea shows that possessing a nuclear bomb has kept it safe.

For a long time now, many elites and patriots of the country and the revolution have been demanding that the bomb be tested and announced. If we had nuclear weapons, Trump would not dare to threaten to bomb.

Deal or War? Iran Faces U.S. Deadline

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Several members of the Tren de Aragua and of MS-13 were transferred to CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo), a maximum security prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador.

Tren de Aragua: A Venezuela-based criminal organization that emerged in Tocorón Prison. Involved in human trafficking, drug trade, and extortion, it has expanded across Latin America and the U.S. Led by “Niño Guerrero.”

MS-13: A gang founded by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles. Known for its violence, it operates in Central America and the U.S. Initially formed for protection, it evolved into organized crime.

NEW: Trump planning to travel to Saudi Arabia in May, Reuters has reported, citing sources.

NEW: The Kremlin said that Russia and the United States were working on ideas for a possible peace settlement in Ukraine and on building bilateral ties despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying that he was "pissed off" with Vladimir Putin.

Burning Chinese VT-4 tank at a Nigerian military base captured by IS militants.

Nigeria acquired these tanks to combat Boko Haram, with the first batch arriving in April 2020 as part of a $152 million contract.

Elon Musk on Le Pen ban:

Radical left abuses the legal system to jail their opponents.

French Politician Jordan Bardella called for a "popular and peaceful mobilization" after Le Pen ban.