Marine Le Pen launches French presidential campaign amid nationwide unrest

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally, scheduled her first presidential campaign speech to address around 10,000 supporters on Sunday in the city of Orleans, France 24 reported. The campaign launch came a day after nationwide cost-of-living protests again escalated into violence. France 24 noted that Le Pen is currently the frontrunner in surveys to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in the upcoming national election in six months. [1]

The gathering in Orleans follows a two-day National Rally congress. Euronews reported that Jordan Bardella was overwhelmingly re-elected as party leader during the event, securing 98.98 percent of the vote in an uncontested election. RN lawmaker Yoann Gillet announced that Bardella received 75,497 votes, while 779 blank ballots were cast. [2]

The political moves unfold against a backdrop of ongoing civil unrest. As FTMQ News reported earlier, President Emmanuel Macron recently criticized foreign leaders for making comments about the French protests, rejecting claims that the country was invaded by migrants and Islamists. [8]

Le Pen is preparing her campaign as other political factions position themselves for the presidency. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Raphael Glucksmann won the French Socialist primary in October 2026 with over 66 percent of the vote, defeating candidates Olivier Faure and Segolene Royal. [7]