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National Rally's Le Pen launches presidential campaign against backdrop of protests and social, economic discontent.

Marine Le Pen launches French presidential campaign

RN candidate Marine Le Pen officially launched her campaign for the French presidential election on Sunday, October 25, at a rally in Orléans.

Just before half past four, Marine Le Pen took to the stage under the stadium strobe lights at the Zénith Arena in Orléans. The radical-right leader, whom analysts say is on the doorstep of the presidency, is polarising, yet deeply and increasingly popular with her base, and has topped the popularity polls for months in France. This came 24 hours after the latest protests across the country, which included over ten thousand anti-Le Pen demonstrators outside the venue yesterday.

Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right candidate to succeed President Emmanuel Macron next year, vowed in her first campaign speech on Sunday to “restore the rule of law” if elected next year. Le Pen - the frontrunner in the polls - seems to be benefiting from the convulsions France has been going through for weeks, punctuated by mass cost-of-living rallies and some violent clashes on Saturday and the previous week. “We are going to restore the rule of law,” she said, after looting and arson on the...

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, addressed some 10,000 supporters on Sunday in the city of Orleans as she kicked off her presidential campaign, a day after nationwide cost-of-living protests flared again into violence. Le Pen, the frontrunner, is seen to be benefiting in the polls from the weeks of unrest. Lecturer in Liberal Arts at Queen Mary University of London, Andrew Smith, shares further analysis.

We’ve just been listening to Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally and its presidential candidate, delivering her first official campaign speech in Orléans. She spoke of what she called a “renaissance” for France and the dawn of a new era. She also condemned what she described as “Islamist ideologies” that promote violence, saying they are incompatible with France. Our reporter Antonia Kerrigan was listening in Orléans and joins us now with more.

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, is set to address some 10,000 supporters on Sunday in the city of Orleans as she kicks off her presidential campaign, a day after nationwide cost-of-living protests flared again into violence. Le Pen, the frontrunner, is seen to be benefiting in the polls from the weeks of unrest.

The day after the first day of the National Rally congress in Orléans, in central France, passed without any major incidents, Marine Le Pen is due to deliver her first major campaign speech on Sunday afternoon, 25 October, under heavy police surveillance. The speech, centred on the theme of renewal, aims to inject a dose of optimism six months ahead of the presidential election, the candidate has reportedly said in private. Gilles Ivaldi, a political science researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Nice, explains that the violence following protests across France in recent weeks could help the National Rally present itself as the party capable of restoring public safety and national security.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is launching her presidential campaign today. The National Rally candidate is due to deliver her first campaign speech in Orléans, addressing around 10,000 party members. Police were controlling traffic entering the city this morning, following a large anti-far-right demonstration on Saturday, where thousands of protesters marched chanting anti-fascist slogans.

Meanwhile, France’s far-right National Rally is holding the second day of its party congress in Orléans, south of Paris. Marine Le Pen is expected to officially launch her presidential campaign in a speech later this afternoon, while Jordan Bardella is being re-elected as party leader. On Saturday, a large counter-demonstration against the far right was held in the city. Our reporter Antonia Kerrigan has been following the latest developments.

Meanwhile, France’s far-right National Rally is holding the second day of its party congress in Orléans, south of Paris. Marine Le Pen is expected to officially launch her presidential campaign in a speech later this afternoon, while Jordan Bardella is being re-elected as party leader. On Saturday, a large counter-demonstration against the far right was held in the city. For more on what’s happening there, let’s cross to our reporter, Antonia Kerrigan.

Thousands of anti-fascist protesters took to the streets of Orléans on Saturday to demonstrate against a congress held by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party. Marchers criticised both Le Pen and President Emmanuel Macron, chanting slogans and carrying banners opposing the far right. The protest came amid renewed nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living, a week after rallies descended into street violence. The two-day congress also marked a major campaign event for Le Pen ahead of France’s presidential election in six months’ time. Antonia Kerrigan reports the latest from Orleans.

Thousands marched in Orléans as police, a night curfew for minors and a Sunday protest ban shaped the National Rally's weekend congress. The post Thousands March as Le Pen’s Party Meets appeared first on The Rio Times.

Against this backdrop of heightened tensions, France’s far-right National Rally is holding its annual congress in Orléans, south of Paris, where it is expected to officially launch Marine Le Pen’s presidential campaign and re-elect Jordan Bardella as party leader. Thousands of supporters are expected to attend, while a major counter-demonstration has been organised against racism, fascism and imperialism. Local authorities are preparing for possible clashes between the two groups. Antonia Kerrigan reports the latest.

The far-right European Parliament group of French presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen's party said Wednesday EU prosecutors were searching its offices as part of a graft probe into its now-defunct predecessor. The Patriots for Europe group said the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) had been searching its administrative offices in Brussels and Strasbourg "since this morning". FRANCE 24's Dave Keating reports from Strasbourg.

In the wake of the weekend's violence, the political camps have been trading blame for the “chaos”. The riots have played into the hands of the far-right National Rally - which has been quick to capitalise on the anger and fears over law and order. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Dr David Lees, Reader in French Studies at the University of Warwick, says that Marine Le Pen "is trying to use these events as a vehicle for pushing her popularity ahead of the elections next year".

In the wake of the weekend's violence, the political camps have been trading blame for the “chaos”. The riots have played into the hands of the far-right National Rally - which has been quick to capitalise on the anger and fears over law and order. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Dr David Lees, Reader in French Studies at the University of Warwick, says that Marine Le Pen "is trying to use these events as a vehicle for pushing her popularity ahead of the elections next year".

Le Pen is positioning her party as more capable than centrist or left-wing forces before the 2027 presidential election.

How much damage has the unrest in France caused to a protest movement rooted in genuine grievances but hijacked by rioters, violence and vandalism? Is it a gift to Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader and presidential frontrunner? Or is it a spectre of trouble to come in a deeply polarised society, amid an increasingly poisonous political atmosphere? France 24’s Gavin Lee speaks to French analyst Renaud Foucault and a senior professor of economics.