Supporters are likening a five-year ban on Marine Le Pen running for office to a political witch-hunt. But the criticisms — and death threats to a judge — could backfire.

Could act of politicians being barred from running for office after convictions be antithetical to democratic norms?

Rechter Bénédicte de Perthuis (63) kreeg al tijdens het proces doodsbedreigingen op de extreem-rechtse website Riposte: ‘Ze ...