About: Marine Le Pen
Le Pen’s Rassemblement National revises stance towards EU and the euro
Le Pen's party is no longer making calls to exit the EU or abandon the euro. Instead, the party is attempting to renew itself with a nationalist but locally anchored narrative. EURACTIV France reports.
European elections in France, in the shadow of national politics
President Emmanuel Macron's call for a "renewal of Europe" made a splash in the media but got a muted reaction from other national leaders. Henrik Uterwedde explains whether Macron's European political offensive is in fact a tactical move, aimed to resonate within France as well as beyond its borders.
Smileys and selfies: Europe’s far-right tries to end divisions
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini sends texts with smileys to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and posts selfies with Austrian far-right politician Heinz-Christian Strache.
Critical mass building for motion to expel Orbán from EPP
A critical mass is likely to be reached within days to put the expulsion of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party from the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) to a vote. The decision could be taken ahead of a crucial meeting on 20 March.
Le Pen’s Rassemblement National continues to puzzle pollsters
Considered the favourite for the European elections in the autumn polls, the far-right Rassemblement National party of Marine Le Pen is now predicted to finish in second place with 20% of voting intentions, behind Emmanuel Macron's La République En Marche. EURACTIV France reports.
Le Pen claims to be spokesperson for ‘real yellow vests’
Marine Le Pen has said that she is the mouthpiece for the “real yellow vests” for the European elections, standing up for “poor workers, admirable single mums and needy pensioners.” EURACTIV France’s media partner La Tribune reports.
Macron eyeing referendum on EU election day
President Emmanuel Macron is considering organising what would be the first referendum in France in 14 years as part of his response to the "yellow vest" protests, a report said on Sunday (3 February).
Enrico Letta: Are pro-EU forces ready for the anti-EU’s main election theme?
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Monday (28 January) that EU politicians should be prepared to address the issue of migration, as anti-EU forces are set to make it their number one item in the upcoming elections.
Bulgarian businessman hopes to team up with Le Pen after EU elections
Veselin Mareshki, a Bulgarian businessman and leader of the party ‘Volya’ (‘Will’), will lead the list of candidates for the European elections in May, for a new far-right coalition that hopes to join forces with France’s Marine Le Pen.
Macron’s LREM wants to turn EU elections into duel with Rassemblement National
Unlike other groups, LREM is allowing itself until the start of March to reveal who will lead its list for the European elections, hoping it will therefore have the time to mobilise its political partners at the European Parliament. EURACTIV France reports.
France’s Le Pen launches EU campaign with appeal to ‘yellow vests’
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her campaign for the May 26 European Parliament election on Sunday (13 January) with an appeal to the broad "yellow vest" protest movement that has rattled the government.
2019 LOOKAHEAD: New brand of social upheaval takes shape ahead of EU elections
The yellow vests in France and Belgium may be only the tip of the iceberg of a major social upheaval ahead of the European elections, with a common denominator: people protesting their worsening living standards do not want to be represented by the existing political forces.
Vlaams Belang hosts Steve Bannon, Marine Le Pen in Flemish parliament
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Steve Bannon, a former advisor to US President Donald Trump, denounced the UN migration compact at an event hosted by Vlaams Belang in the Flemish parliament in Brussels on Saturday (8 December).
Macron makes U-turn on fuel-tax increases in face of ‘yellow vest’ protests
France's prime minister on Tuesday (4 December) suspended planned increases to fuel taxes for at least six months in response to weeks of sometimes violent protests, the first major U-turn by President Emmanuel Macron's administration in 18 months in office.
Macron surveys damage after Paris riots, calls for talks
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (2 December) surveyed the damage from a day of riots across Paris and led a crisis meeting that ended with a call for further talks with anti-government activists who have staged two weeks of protests.
Macron to face domestic questions at EU’s Brexit summit
French President Emmanuel Macron will undoubtedly need to answer a number of domestic questions at the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday (25 November), expected to endorse the Brexit deal.
Macron calls for ‘true European army’ to defend against Russia, US, China
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Tuesday (6 November) for a "real European army" to allow the bloc to defend itself against Russia and even the United States, a hugely sensitive idea amongst EU nations which jealously guard their defence.
Macron loses out in polls as Le Pen surges forward
France's far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party has overtaken President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist LREM in the latest poll of voting intentions ahead of the 2019 European Elections.
Italy and France far-right leaders slam Brussels ‘bunker’
Italy and France's far-right leaders launched their European Parliament election campaign on Monday (8 October) with an attack on the "Brussels bunker" they hope to enter en masse after the May vote.
Le Pen sent to shrink over Islamic State tweets
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen expressed outrage Thursday (21 September) after being ordered to undergo psychiatric tests for tweeting pictures of atrocities committed by the Islamic State group.
France’s Le Pen urges show of nationalist force in European elections
France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen urged Europe's populist parties to unite against a liberal establishment in next year's European elections, as she made a combative return to the spotlight after her bruising election defeat last year.
Macron’s party neck-and-neck with far-right in 2019 EU election opinion poll
French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist LREM party is neck-and-neck with the far-right Rassemblement National, formerly the National Front, for the May 2019 European Parliament elections, according to poll results published on Thursday (13 September).
Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats lead election, far right make gains
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven's Social Democrats remained the biggest party in Sunday's (9 September) general election, as the anti-immigrant far right made gains and vowed to exert "real influence" in politics.