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Marine Le Pen (center answers journalists' questions during a campaign visit
Image: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP

Marine Le Pen

Marine Le Pen, a lawyer by profession, is the former president of France's nationalist right-wing National Rally (RN), having led the party from 2011 to 2021. She ran for president in 2012, 2017 and 2022.

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All Content on this topic

French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron’s gamble: Does France want far right in government?

The French president’s call for snap elections could put Le Pen’s party in power.
PoliticsJune 12, 202426:04 min
Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella at an RN EU election night event

French conservatives move toward far-right alliance

The leader of the Republicans has said he would be open to an alliance with Naional Rally, breaking a decades-old taboo.
PoliticsJune 11, 2024
Emmanuel Macron stands at a polling station, looking pensive

After EU loss, Macron bets on snap elections in France

In calling parliamentary elections, President Macron could regain ground — or simply open the door for the far right.
PoliticsJune 11, 2024
Europawahl 2024 | Wahlplakate Frankreich

Inside Europe bonus episode - Focus on France

Inside Europe's Kate Laycock is joined by French journalist and 'Fixing France' author Nabila Ramdani for analysis of the French edition of European Parliament elections. Then, two complementary stories from rural France - one about the far-right, the other about the left.
PoliticsJune 6, 202421:18 min
France's far-right National Rally is forging ahead in the polls in the runup to EU elections.

Trying to defeat France's far-right National Rally

France's far-right National Rally is forging ahead in the polls in the runup to EU elections.
PoliticsMay 31, 202403:25 min
Jordan Bardella at an election rally

French far-right eyes crucial gains in European elections

Jordan Bardella of National Rally is leading the polls. And his is not the only far-right party hoping to make headways.
PoliticsMay 29, 202402:55 min
Maximilian Krah

Germany's AfD given boot from EU Parliament far-right group

The French far right have expelled the German AfD from their shared political group in the European Parliament.
PoliticsMay 23, 2024
Identity and Democracy group logo displayed on a phone screen and European Union flag displayed on a laptop screen

French far-right National Rally splits with Germany's AfD

The main far-right party of France says it will no longer align with its erstwhile German allies in the EU parliament.
PoliticsMay 22, 2024
The French National Assembly, with raked seating in semi-circles around a central desk. The room is full, with very few seats empty.

France toughens its anti-migration stance

After lengthy negotiations, the two chambers of the French parliament have agreed on a controversial immigration law.
MigrationDecember 21, 2023
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen

France: Far-right Le Pen to join march against antisemitism

Marine Le Pen and her far-right RN party say they will attend Sunday's march against antisemitism in Paris.
SocietyNovember 11, 2023
Abdelwaheb Sefsaf

The French far right's 'outdated' definition of identity

Researchers say the French far right needs to update its view on French identity.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2023
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin speaks to the press at the Botanical Garden in Tourcoing

French minister appeals to workers, warns of Le Pen victory

"We cannot give Marine Le Pen an inexorable path to power," Gerald Darmanin warned, looking ahead to the 2027 election.
PoliticsAugust 27, 2023
The city hall of L'Hay-les-Roses, with temporary barriers of barbed wire in front

France riots: Could the country's far-right benefit?

The serious unrest in France following the death of 17-year-old Nahel could give a boost to the far right.
SocietyJuly 4, 2023
An older voter puts a ballot into the ballot box

Germany's AfD reflects Europe's shift to the right

Germany's far-right AfD party has won its first governing post, amid a wider European shift to the right.
PoliticsJune 26, 2023
Jordan Bardella

France's far right replaces Le Pen with Jordan Bardella

The 27-year-old is the first party leader who is not a member of the Le Pen family.
PoliticsNovember 5, 2022
French far-right MP Gregoire de Fournas stands in a session of questions to the government at the French National Assembly in Paris, on July 26, 2022.

French far-right MP's 'go back to Africa' cry causes uproar

An MP shouted "go back to Africa!" as a Black, left wing lawmaker was talking about migrants stranded at sea.
PoliticsNovember 3, 2022
Giogria Meloni walks on stage holding a microphone

Women gaining traction in far-right politics

With Giorgia Meloni now as Italy's prime minister, women seem to be doing well at the helm of Europe's far-right.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) at a meeting in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022

Authoritarian regimes losing ground

Bulgarian political scientist Evgenii Dainov believes authoritarian regimes around the world are beginning to lose sway.
PoliticsSeptember 2, 2022
people standing in Paris

Macron's majority loss could be a win for France

President Macron has lost his majority in parliament and will now have to learn the art of compromise, says Lisa Louis.
PoliticsJune 20, 2022
French President Emmauel Macron voting in the parliamentary elections

France: Macron's alliance narrowly leads parliamentary vote

Macron's alliance is in a tight race with the new left-wing union NUPES according to initial projections.
PoliticsJune 12, 2022
What´s next after the presidential election in France?

France: A divided country

What's next after the presidential election in France?
PoliticsApril 28, 202204:10 min
French President Emmanuel Macron and French first lady Brigitte Macron celebrate with supporters in Paris

Culture figures cold on Macron win

He might have saved France from the far-right, but Macron has failed to deliver, say cultural activists.
CultureApril 26, 2022
Emmanuel Macron gives a speech after his reelection

French election: Macron defeats Le Pen to secure second term

The centrist Emmanuel Macron has beaten far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the presidential election runoff.
PoliticsApril 25, 2022
Emmanuel Macron holds up his hands in a the pose of a boxer, wearing white boxing gloves

Macron unpopular, but reelected president

Emmanuel Macron's win this time round was less emphatic than in 2017. DW profiles the French president.
PoliticsApril 24, 2022
Macron waves to the crowd at his victory speech

Emmanuel Macron wins French presidential election

Emmanuel Macron has beaten far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election. DW has the latest.
PoliticsApril 24, 2022
Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron

French election: What you need to know

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are going head-to-head in the runoff election on Sunday. Here's what you need to know.
PoliticsApril 22, 2022
Graffiti scrawled over posters of far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen (R) and incumbent president and candidate for his reelection Emmanuel Macron (L)

Macron or Le Pen: Tough choice for Africans

Around one in 20 people in France are of African origin, and many are planning to vote in Sunday's presidential runoff.
PoliticsApril 22, 2022
Election posters for Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen

French voters face difficult choice

Going into Sunday's runoff vote, Emmanuel Macron is leading the polls. But nationalist Marine Le Pen isn't far behind.
PoliticsApril 22, 2022
Posters of Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen peeling off a board

A divided France votes amid a 'shift to the right'

Ahead of France's election, author Romy Strassenburg explains why she's scared — and why others aren't scared enough.
CultureApril 22, 2022
France's Marine Le Pen looks on during a campaign visit in northwestern France

France polls: What would a Le Pen victory mean for India?

The outcome of the French presidential election could have an impact on the future of the EU's Indo-Pacific ambitions.
PoliticsApril 21, 2022
Macron and Le Pen taking part in a live televised debate on French TV channels TF1 and France 2 in Saint-Denis, north of Paris

Macron and Le Pen clash in TV debate ahead of election

The French president and his far-right opponent are trying to convince voters ahead of Sunday's decisive vote.
PoliticsApril 21, 2022
French euro coins

Le Pen victory a burden on France's budget?

The far-right candidate has dropped eurozone exit plans, but some say her policies would trigger a global crisis.
BusinessApril 20, 2022
French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen

France: Le Pen faces graft claims ahead of French runoff

French prosecutors are looking into a report which accuses far-right candidate Marine Le Pen of embezzling EU funds.
PoliticsApril 17, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron in Marseille

Macron warns 'nothing is decided' despite lead over Le Pen

Emmanuel Macron's victory in the presidential runoff vote is far from certain, despite a 10-point lead in the polls.
PoliticsApril 16, 2022
Marine Le Pen is confronted by a woman in a headscarf

Macron, Le Pen lock horns over Islamic headscarf

The head covering is already outlawed in schools and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wants a nationwide ban.
PoliticsApril 15, 2022
Emannuel Macron, man standing at a lectern, holds up high both arms, flags waving in foreground

Runoff between Macron, Le Pen is stark choice

Emmanuel Macron's camp heaved a sigh of relief as the incumbent president relegated Marine le Pen to second place.
PoliticsApril 11, 2022
An illustration showing the faces of French President Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen

France is facing an attack on its democracy

French voters will need to ask themselves if they want to preserve their democracy, Lisa Louis writes.
PoliticsApril 11, 2022
Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron take part in a televised debate

French election: Macron to face Le Pen in runoff

Projections show Emmanuel Macron will be up against Marine Le Pen in the April 24 runoff election.
PoliticsApril 10, 2022
Macron from above with a crowd of people pressing close about him, March 31, 2022.

Macron and Le Pen battle for French votes

The incumbent's reelection seemed assured. But the nationalist candidate is closing in. They're battling to the finish.
PoliticsApril 9, 2022
Campaign posters of six presidential candidates

French presidential election: What you need to know

France's presidential vote begins on Sunday. Here is a roundup of who's running, how it works and what to expect.
PoliticsApril 8, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron at a campaign rally near Paris

France: Macron vows inflation relief at election rally

The presidential election first round is a week away and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is closing in on Macron
PoliticsApril 2, 2022
Large carnival caricature heads of France's presidential candidates in a warehouse in Nice, France

France announces candidates for April presidential election

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron remains the front-runner, but he will face challenges from the left and the right.
PoliticsMarch 7, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron

France: Macron confirms he will run for second term

Emmanuel Macron is seeking to become the first French president to be reelected in 20 years.
PoliticsMarch 3, 2022
Anne Hidalgo, Valerie Pecresse and Marine le Pen

Is France ready for a female president?

For the first time, France has a record number of women aiming to unseat President Macron in April. Could they succeed?
PoliticsJanuary 29, 2022
EU flat at the Arc de Triomphe

France removes EU flag from Arc de Triomphe

A temporary EU flag attached to the Paris landmark was removed after it drew fury from conservatives and the far right.
PoliticsJanuary 2, 2022
Viktor Orban kissing the hand of Marine Le Pen

European populist far-right parties meet in Warsaw

Warsaw hosted figureheads representing some of the most successful attempts to bring fascism back to Europe.
PoliticsDecember 5, 2021
Frankreich Eric Zemmour gibt seine Präsidentschafts-Kandidatur bekannt

What does Eric Zemmour's presidential candidacy mean for France?

Like far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Eric Zemmour’s theme is immigration and, in particular, Islam, which he sees as an existential threat to the fabric of French society and culture. Zemmour’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is, however, able to reach new segments of French society, and his background as a journalist and TV pundit gives him a ready-made platform and following.
PoliticsDecember 2, 202108:07 min
Eric Zemmour

France: Far-right TV star shakes up presidential race

A controversial writer, known for his radical views, has electrified France by entering the presidential race.
PoliticsNovember 30, 2021
French far-right leader Marine le Pen shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after a joint press conference

Hungary's Orban hosts French far-right leader Le Pen

Marine Le Pen heavily criticized the European Union during her visit with the Hungarian prime minister in Budapest.
Rule of LawOctober 26, 2021
People in crowded Paris street

France to reduce visas for Maghreb countries

Paris has accused former colonies of not doing enough to allow illegal immigrants to return.
PoliticsSeptember 29, 2021