France's government fails to stop student protests, and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads in the presidential race
Marine Le Pen launched her 2027 presidential campaign in Orléans, where thousands protested. The event coincided with a surge in public unrest over rising living costs, with police making over 1,300 arrests. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez blamed ultra-left extremists for the violence, while Le Pen accused the government of lacking authority and claimed she would combat all forms of obscurantism.
- Marine Le Pen vowed to restore the rule of law if she is elected.
- Jordan Bardella was re-elected as leader of the National Rally.
- More than 400,000 people marched in major French cities on Saturday to protest rising cost of living.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nunez blamed much of the violence on ultra-left extremists.
- An Ipsos survey suggested Le Pen would score 32% to 34% in the first round.
- Marine Le Pen stated she would combat 'all obscurantism,' including Islamist ideology.
- Police made more than 1,300 arrests during protests.
- Marine Le Pen remains the party's top leader.
- The National Rally congress in Orléans was a major campaign rally for Le Pen.
- Jordan Bardella pledged to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 16.
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon is currently estimated to have 16 percent of the vote.
- Le Pen criticizes the centrist Macron government for being too lenient on protesters.
- Marine Le Pen accuses LFI of hijacking student protests.
- Le Pen previously promised to end bilateral aid to Ukraine if she won.
- Le Pen promised to introduce automatic deportation for foreigners convicted of a crime.
- Marine Le Pen expects about 10000 attendees at her first major meeting in Orléans.
- Local authorities counted 11000 protesters during demonstrations in Orléans.
- The current unrest represents the culmination of a decade of citizen struggle.
- An opinion poll placed Le Pen ahead of Jean-Luc Melenchon.
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