Marine Le Pen officially kicked off her presidential campaign in Orleans before a crowd of 8,500 supporters. The far-right leader vowed to restore order and tighten national borders following a weekend of violent protests and mass arrests across France.
The 8,500-strong rally in Orleans
Marine Le Pen utilized the historic setting of Orleans, the city where Joan of Arc lifted an English siege in 1429 , to frame her movement as the dawn of a new era. The 58-year-old candidate addressed a crowd waving French flags and chanting "We're going to win," promising to return strength to the nation.. Her deputy, 31-year-old Jordan Bardella, also took the stage to receive a standing ovation, pledging a crackdown on the ultra-left by lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 16 and deporting delinquents.
Promises of 'double borders' and capped energy costs
Le Pen's economic and immigration platform centers on a radical restructuring of French sovereignty and household finances. as reported by the source, the candidate intends to establish "double borders"—both French and European—and ensure that French nationality becomes a privilege that is either inherited or earned. To address the grievances of supporters like 23-year-old Charlene Malingre , who cited concerns over insecurity, Le Pen has promised to cap household energy bills, reduce taxes, and trim France's financial contributions to the European Union.
The 1,300 arrests and the 400,000-person protest wave
Recent civil unrest has provided a volatile backdrop for the campaign launch in Orleans. According to the report, more than 400 ,000 people marched in major French cities on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living, leading to violent clashes and looting. These demonstrations resulted in more than 1,300 arrests, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez attributing much of the weekend's violence to ultra-left extremists, while Le Pen accused President Emmanuel Macron's government of being too soft on protesters.
The 34 percent Ipsos projection amid a budget deficit
Polling data suggests a significant shift in voter sentiment toward nationalist politics as frustration with the current administration grows. An Ipsos survey published Saturday indicates that Le Pen could secure between 32 and 34 percent of the vote in the first round of the upcoming elections. This potential surge occurs as the French government struggles to manage a budget deficit and national debt that have already exceeded European Union limits, making additional spending difficult for whoever wins the presidency.
The shadow of graft convictions and NATO criticism
Legal and geopolitical controversies continue to follow the Le Pen campaign as the April elections approach. While she promises to restore the rule of law , she must contend with a graft conviction that was recently upheld by an appeals court. Furthermore,her critical stance on NATO and France's support for Ukraine remains a polarizing issue. The campaign also faces intense social opposition , evidenced by a brief interruption from a Jewish student union and counter-protests from citizens like Antonine Rochet, who fear the rise of the far right.
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