ORLÉANS — The leader of the French far-right, Marine Le Pen, the frontrunner in next year’s presidential race, formally launched her candidacy on Sunday, promising to restore order and national confidence.
In a moment when France is going through one of its most turbulent periods in recent years, Le Pen presented herself as the most prepared candidate to confront what she described as a growing combination of economic, social, and security crises.
“We are not living through the end of the world, but the end of a world, their world,” she said, referring to her political opponents.
Le Pen chose to deliver her first campaign speech in Orléans, a city associated with Joan of Arc, the 15th-century warrior heroine revered by French nationalists as a symbol of patriotism and sovereignty.
Before a crowd of supporters, she promised a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against crime and stated that restoring security is the State’s main duty.
The mass protests against rising living costs and social inequality, held last weekend, ended in looting and vandalism.
Pesquisa coloca Le Pen na liderança
The street unrest seems to have benefited Le Pen. A poll released on Sunday showed the far-right leader with between 32% and 33.5% of voting intentions, well ahead of her closest rival, radical leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who stands at 17%.
The survey suggests Le Pen would defeat Mélenchon easily in an eventual second round, expected to take place in early May.
In an attempt to convey optimism, Le Pen structured her speech around the theme of a national ‘Renaissance.’ According to her, France is undergoing a period of deep transformation, but will emerge stronger if it adopts her vision based on security, prosperity, and renewal.
“Things were good before; they will be better tomorrow!” she declared.
Le Pen promised to tighten immigration policies, restore border controls, automatically expel foreigners convicted of crimes, and intensify the fight against gangs and drug traffickers.
Le Pen herself could campaign wearing an electronic ankle monitor after being convicted of misappropriating funds from the European Parliament. She is appealing the court decision.
Economia, Europa e unidade partidária
On the economy, Le Pen promised restraint in public spending, tax cuts for businesses, less bureaucracy, and support for industry, innovation, and artificial intelligence. She also rejected further increases in the minimum retirement age.
The party congress was planned to demonstrate unity at the head of the National Rally. Jordan Bardella was reelected president of the party and presented as Le Pen’s choice for the role of prime minister.
Bardella’s speech was interrupted by activists from a Jewish student union, who drew attention to recent allegations that he had made anti-Semitic comments in his youth, allegations he denies.
Le Pen spent more than a decade trying to transform the party inherited from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 2011, softening its image and broadening its political appeal beyond the traditionally anti-immigration base.
On Europe, Le Pen avoided calling for France to exit the European Union, but she said she would reduce Brussels’ influence, restore national control over borders and laws, and put French interests first, including avoiding France’s involvement in foreign wars.
“The future belongs to us,” she declared, before leading the crowd waving French flags as the national anthem was played.
(Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro, Lafken Zepeda and Nicolas Economou)
