:Marine Le Pen

Marion Anne Perrine Le Pen was born on 5 August 1968 in Neuilly-sur-Seine,{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marine-Le-Pen |title=Marine Le Pen |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en |access-date=23 June 2020 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518193515/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marine-Le-Pen |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.lepoint.fr/tags/marine-le-pen |title=Marine Le Pen: Biographie et articles – Le Point |website=Le Point |language=fr |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-date=29 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129062516/http://www.lepoint.fr/tags/marine-le-pen |url-status=live}} the youngest of three daughters of Jean-Marie Le Pen (1928–2025), a Breton politician and former paratrooper, and his first wife, Pierrette Le Pen.

She was baptized on 25 April 1969 at La Madeleine Church in Paris. Her godfather was Henri Botey, a relative of her father.{{Cite book |last=Chombeau |first=Christiane |title=Le Pen, fille & père |date=2007 |publisher=Panama |isbn=978-2-7557-0303-0 |page=22}}

Le Pen has two sisters: Yann and Marie-Caroline. In 1976, when Marine was eight, a bomb meant for her father exploded in the stairwell outside the family's apartment as they slept.{{cite web|url=http://img47.xooimage.com/files/9/3/4/attentat-marine-le-pen-21f8aef.pdf|title=Welcome to a ruthless world|publisher=xooimage.com|access-date=22 March 2011|language=fr|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718132855/http://img47.xooimage.com/files/9/3/4/attentat-marine-le-pen-21f8aef.pdf|url-status=live}} The blast ripped a hole in the outside wall of the building, but Marine, her two older sisters and their parents were unharmed.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772875-2,00.html|title=Marine Le Pen's Populism for the Masses (Part 2: The Divide Between the Governing and the Governed)|work=Der Spiegel|first=Mathieu|last=von Rohr|date=7 July 2011|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-date=12 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712025014/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772875-2,00.html|url-status=live}}

She was a student at the Lycée Florent Schmitt in Saint-Cloud. Her mother left the family in 1984 when Marine was 16. Le Pen wrote in her autobiography that the effect was "the most awful, cruel, crushing of pains of the heart: my mother did not love me."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/marine_le_pen |title=Marine Le Pen. Is France's National Front leader far-right? |publisher=BBC |first=Hugh |last=Schofield |date=14 March 2017 |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505140305/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/marine_le_pen |url-status=live }} Her parents divorced in 1987.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections-presidentielles-2017.fr/candidats-2012/marine-le-pen/ |title=Marine Le Pen's biography |publisher=Élections présidentielles 2012 |date=20 November 2009 |access-date=17 November 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120154359/http://www.elections-presidentielles-2017.fr/candidats-2012/marine-le-pen/ |archive-date=20 November 2010 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/21/marine-lepen-defends-republic|title=Marine Le Pen emerges from father's shadow|work=The Guardian|first=Angelique|last=Chrisafis|date=21 March 2011|access-date=22 March 2011|archive-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922002135/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/21/marine-lepen-defends-republic|url-status=live}}

Le Pen studied law at Panthéon-Assas University, graduating with a Master of Laws in 1991 and a Master of Advanced Studies (DEA) in criminal law in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6252 |title=FN: the new president elected by the members ! |publisher=Front National |date=16 January 2011 |access-date=17 January 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611025243/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6252 |archive-date=11 June 2011}} Registered at the Paris bar association, she worked as a lawyer for six years (1992–1998), appearing regularly before the criminal chamber of the 23rd district court of Paris which judges immediate appearances, and often acting as a public defender. She was a member of the Paris Bar until 1998, when she joined the legal department of the National Front.

Marine Le Pen joined the FN in 1986, at the age of 18. She acquired her first political mandate in 1998 when she was elected a Regional Councillor for Nord-Pas-de-Calais. In the same year, she joined the FN's juridical branch, which she led until 2003.

In 2000, she became president of Generations Le Pen, a loose association close to the party which aimed at "de-demonizing the Front National". She became a member the FN Executive Committee ({{langx|fr|link=no|bureau politique}}) in 2000, and vice-president of the FN in 2003. In 2006, she managed the presidential campaign of her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. She became one of the two executive vice-presidents of the FN in 2007, with responsibility for training, communication and publicity.

In the 2007 parliamentary election, she contested Pas-de-Calais' 14th constituency but came second behind incumbent Socialist MP Albert Facon.{{Cite web|title=Résultats des élections législatives 2007|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Legislatives/elecresult__legislatives_2007|url-status=live|access-date=19 December 2021|website=Ministère de l'Intérieur |publisher=French Government|language=fr-FR|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413231839/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Legislatives/elecresult__legislatives_2007/(path)/legislatives_2007/index.html}}

Early in 2010, Le Pen expressed her intention to run for leader of the FN, saying that she hoped to make the party "a big popular party that addresses itself not only to the electorate on the right but to all the French people".

On 3 September 2010, she launched her leadership campaign at Cuers, Var.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=110241|title=500 people were at Cuers for Marine Le Pen|work=Nations Presse Info|date=4 September 2010|access-date=1 November 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905114801/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=110241|archive-date=5 September 2012}} During a meeting in Paris on 14 November 2010, she said that her goal was "not only to assemble our political family. It consists of shaping the Front National as the center of grouping of the whole French people", adding that in her view the FN leader should be the party's candidate in the 2012 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=116192|title=The 2012 great alternation is built in 2011|work=Nations Presse Info|date=15 November 2010|access-date=23 November 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906014455/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=116192|archive-date=6 September 2012}} She spent four months campaigning for the FN leadership, holding meetings with FN members in 51 departments.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/calendrier_marine_septembre2010_janvier2011.pdf |title=Timetable of Marine Le Pen's campaign trail for the 2011 Congress |publisher=Front National |access-date=1 November 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727110836/http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/calendrier_marine_septembre2010_janvier2011.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2011}} All the other departments were visited by one of her official supporters. During her final meeting of the campaign in Hénin-Beaumont on 19 December 2010, she claimed that the FN would present the real debate of the next presidential campaign.{{cite web|url=http://briois.ublog.com/weblog/2010/12/afp-le-fn-pose-les-v%C3%A9ritables-d%C3%A9bats-de-la-pr%C3%A9sidentielle-selon-marine-le-pen.html|title=AFP: according to Marine Le Pen, the FN presents the "real debates" of the presidential election|publisher=Agence France-Presse (Steeve Briois' website)|date=20 December 2010|access-date=20 December 2010|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222083041/http://briois.ublog.com/weblog/2010/12/afp-le-fn-pose-les-v%C3%A9ritables-d%C3%A9bats-de-la-pr%C3%A9sidentielle-selon-marine-le-pen.html|archive-date=22 December 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=119680|title=FN leadership: Marine Le Pen's final meeting at Hénin-Beaumont|publisher=Agence France-Presse (Nations Presse Info)|date=21 December 2010|access-date=21 December 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903185300/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=119680|archive-date=3 September 2012}} Her candidacy was endorsed by a majority of senior figures in the party,{{cite web |url=http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/comite-soutien-et-equipe-marinelepen2011.pdf |title=Marine Le Pen's support committee |publisher=Front National |access-date=24 January 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727110848/http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/comite-soutien-et-equipe-marinelepen2011.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2011 }} including her father.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2798961/French-far-right-leader-Jean-Marie-Le-Pen-sets-retirement-date.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2798961/French-far-right-leader-Jean-Marie-Le-Pen-sets-retirement-date.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen sets retirement date|work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Henry|last=Samuel|date=11 September 2008|access-date=17 November 2010}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rmc.fr/editorial/116636/jean-marie-le-pen-soutient-sa-fille-marine-face-a-gollnisch/|title=Jean-Marie Le Pen sides with his daughter Marine against Gollnisch|publisher=RMC|date=30 June 2010|access-date=14 October 2010|language=fr|archive-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717135420/http://www.rmc.fr/editorial/116636/jean-marie-le-pen-soutient-sa-fille-marine-face-a-gollnisch/|url-status=live}}

On several occasions during her campaign she ruled out any political alliance with the Union for a Popular Movement.{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2010/10/30/01002-20101030ARTFIG00466-marine-le-pen-il-n-y-aura-pas-d-alliance-avec-l-ump.php|title=Marine Le Pen: "No alliance with the UMP"|work=Le Figaro|language=fr|date=30 October 2010|access-date=3 November 2010|archive-date=3 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103095519/http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2010/10/30/01002-20101030ARTFIG00466-marine-le-pen-il-n-y-aura-pas-d-alliance-avec-l-ump.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2010/10/31/marine-le-pen-refuse-l-idee-d-une-alliance-avec-l-ump_1433592_823448.html|title=Marine Le Pen refuses the idea of an alliance with the UMP|work=Le Monde|language=fr|date=31 October 2010|access-date=16 February 2011|archive-date=22 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122071456/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2010/10/31/marine-le-pen-refuse-l-idee-d-une-alliance-avec-l-ump_1433592_823448.html|url-status=live}} She also distanced herself from some of Jean-Marie Le Pen's most controversial statements,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-mightier-than-her-pre-2077569.html|title=Marine Le Pen: mightier than her père?|work=The Independent|date=13 September 2010|access-date=17 November 2010|archive-date=16 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916234549/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-mightier-than-her-pre-2077569.html|url-status=live}} such as those relating to war crimes, which was reported in the media as attempts to improve the party's image. While her father had attracted controversy by saying that the mass murder of Jews in gas chambers during the Holocaust was "a detail of the history of World War II", she described genocide as "the height of barbarism".{{cite web|first=Olivier|last=Pognon|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2008/04/28/01002-20080428ARTFIG00356-marine-le-pen-reprend-ses-distances-avec-son-pere.php|title=Marine Le Pen again distances herself from her father|work=Le Figaro|language=fr|date=28 April 2008|access-date=15 October 2010|archive-date=9 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209113145/http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2008/04/28/01002-20080428ARTFIG00356-marine-le-pen-reprend-ses-distances-avec-son-pere.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Jérémy|last=Collado|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/117573/michel-thooris-juifs-marine-le-pen|title=Michel Thooris, l'homme qui veut faire voter les juifs pour Marine Le Pen|work=Slate|language=fr|date=18 May 2016|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913135533/http://www.slate.fr/story/117573/michel-thooris-juifs-marine-le-pen|url-status=live}}

In December 2010 and early January 2011, FN members voted by post to elect their new president and the members of the central committee. The party held a congress at Tours on 15–16 January.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/programme-congres-tours.pdf |title=Official programme of the XIVth congress of the National Front |publisher=Front National |access-date=14 February 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304072404/http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/programme-congres-tours.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2011}} On 16 January 2011, Marine Le Pen was elected as the new president of the FN, with 67.65% of the vote (11,546 votes to 5,522 for Bruno Gollnisch),{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703551604576085830320266312|title=Le Pen's Daughter Takes Party Helm|work=The Wall Street Journal Europe|first=Sebastian|last=Moffett|date=17 January 2011|access-date=18 January 2011|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518201900/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703551604576085830320266312|url-status=live}} and Jean-Marie Le Pen became honorary chairman.

Marine Le Pen received substantial media attention during the campaign as a result of comments, made during a speech to party members in Lyon on 10 December 2010, in which she compared the use of public streets and squares in French cities (in particular rue Myrha in the 18th arrondissement of Paris) for Muslim prayers with the Nazi occupation of France. She said:

{{quote|For those who want to talk a lot about World War II, if it's about occupation, then we could also talk about it (Muslim prayers in the streets), because that is occupation of territory ... It is an occupation of sections of the territory, of districts in which religious laws apply ... There are of course no tanks, there are no soldiers, but it is nevertheless an occupation and it weighs heavily on local residents.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8197895/Marine-Le-Pen-Muslims-in-France-like-Nazi-occupation.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8197895/Marine-Le-Pen-Muslims-in-France-like-Nazi-occupation.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Marine Le Pen: Muslims in France 'like Nazi occupation'|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 December 2010|access-date=4 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/11/97001-20101211FILWWW00450-m-le-pen-choque-sur-les-prieres-de-rue.php|title=Marine Le Pen shocks on street prayers|work=Le Figaro|date=11 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214004759/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/11/97001-20101211FILWWW00450-m-le-pen-choque-sur-les-prieres-de-rue.php|url-status=live}}}}

Her comments were much criticised. Government spokesman François Baroin characterized her remarks as racist and xenophobic.{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2010/12/11/marine-le-pen-compare-les-prieres-de-rue-des-musulmans-a-une-occupation_1452359_823448.html|title=Marine Le Pen compares the "Muslims' street prayers" to an "occupation"|work=Le Monde|agency=Agence France-Presse/Reuters|date=11 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214085733/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2010/12/11/marine-le-pen-compare-les-prieres-de-rue-des-musulmans-a-une-occupation_1452359_823448.html|url-status=live}} The Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF),{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118902|title=The CRIF denounces Marine Le Pen|work=Nations Presse Info|date=14 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604202812/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118902|archive-date=4 June 2012}} the French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM){{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/11/97001-20101211FILWWW00610-marine-le-pen-propos-irresponsables.php|title=Marine Le Pen: "irresponsible" words|work=Le Figaro|date=11 December 2010|access-date=16 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214010621/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/11/97001-20101211FILWWW00610-marine-le-pen-propos-irresponsables.php|url-status=live}} and the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA){{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/14/97001-20101214FILWWW00478-la-licra-condamne-les-propos-de-le-pen.php|title=The Licra condemns Marine Le Pen's language|work=Le Figaro|date=14 December 2010|access-date=16 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=16 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216235644/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/14/97001-20101214FILWWW00478-la-licra-condamne-les-propos-de-le-pen.php|url-status=live}} condemned her statement, and groups including MRAP (Movement Against Racism and for Friendship between Peoples){{cite web|url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualite/politique/20101212.OBS4574/plainte-contre-marine-le-pen-pour-incitation-a-la-haine-raciale.html|title=The MRAP lodges a formal complaint against Marine Le Pen for racial hatred|work=Le Nouvel Observateur|date=12 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214040358/http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualite/politique/20101212.OBS4574/plainte-contre-marine-le-pen-pour-incitation-a-la-haine-raciale.html|url-status=live}} and the French Human Rights League (LDH){{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/13/97001-20101213FILWWW00441-marine-le-pen-plainte-de-la-ldh.php|title=Marine Le Pen: the LDH lodges a formal complaint|work=Le Figaro|date=13 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=16 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216041532/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/12/13/97001-20101213FILWWW00441-marine-le-pen-plainte-de-la-ldh.php|url-status=live}} declared their intention to lodge a formal complaint. The imam of the Great Mosque of Paris and former president of the CFCM, Dalil Boubakeur, said that, while her parallel was questionable and to be condemned, she had asked a valid question.{{cite web|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-pose-une-vraie-question.70975 |title=Marine Le Pen asked a valid question |work=France-Soir |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=17 December 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216225840/http://www.francesoir.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-pose-une-vraie-question.70975 |archive-date=16 December 2010}}

Le Pen's partner Louis Aliot, a member of the FN's Executive Committee, criticized "the attempted manipulation of opinion by communitarian groups and those really responsible for the current situation in France".{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6187 |title=Statement about communitarianism and those really responsible for the current situation in France |publisher=Front National |first=Louis|last=Aliot|author-link=Louis Aliot |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=17 December 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408123205/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6187 |archive-date=8 April 2011 }} On 13 December 2010, Le Pen reasserted her statement during a press conference at the FN headquarters in Nanterre.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6164 |title=Our occupied streets: Marine Le Pen's press conference |publisher=Front National |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=14 December 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825005356/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6164 |archive-date=25 August 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/fil-info-reuters/marine-le-pen-persiste-et-signe-a-propos-de-l-occupation-13-12-2010-1274668_240.php|title=Marine Le Pen "confirms and signs" for "the Occupation"|work=Le Point|date=13 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216010523/http://www.lepoint.fr/fil-info-reuters/marine-le-pen-persiste-et-signe-a-propos-de-l-occupation-13-12-2010-1274668_240.php|archive-date=16 December 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118982|title=Marine Le Pen confirms and signs|work=BFM TV (Nations Presse Info)|date=14 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr}}{{dead link|date=March 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} After Jean-François Kahn's comments on BFM TV on 13 December 2010, she accused the Élysée Palace of organising "state manipulation" with the intention of demonizing her in public opinion.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6169 |title=Controversy of the street prayers. This is state manipulation: the proof ! |publisher=Front National |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=14 December 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219081632/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6169 |archive-date=19 December 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118990|title=Revelations: Marine Le Pen badmouthed by the Elysée|publisher=BFM TV (Nations Presse Info)|date=14 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904063754/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118990|archive-date=4 September 2012}} On 15 December 2015, a Lyon court acquitted her of "inciting hatred", ruling that her statement "did not target all of the Muslim community" and was protected "as a part of freedom of expression".{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20151215-france-le-pen-acquitted-hatred|title=French far-right leader Marine Le Pen acquitted of inciting hatred|publisher=France 24|date=15 December 2015|access-date=3 January 2016|language=fr|archive-date=2 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102225623/http://www.france24.com/en/20151215-france-le-pen-acquitted-hatred|url-status=live}}

Le Pen has pursued a policy of "de-demonisation" of her party, to reform its image away from the extremism associated with her father, the former leader of the party and to increase the appeal of the party to voters. This has included policy reform and personnel replacement, including the expulsion of her own father from the party in 2015. Measures aimed at de-demonisation have included dropping all references to World War II or to the French colonial wars, which is often looked on as a generation gap.{{cite web |last=Andrieu |first=Gérald |date=14 April 2010 |title=J.Fourquet: "Marine Le Pen has irrupted during the Mitterrand scandal" (in French) |url=http://www.marianne.net/J-Fourquet-Marine-Le-Pen-a-perce-lors-de-l-affaire-Mitterrand_a191750.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711062138/http://www.marianne.net/J-Fourquet-Marine-Le-Pen-a-perce-lors-de-l-affaire-Mitterrand_a191750.html |archive-date=11 July 2015 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Marianne (magazine)}} and distancing herself from her father's views.{{cite web |date=27 March 2009 |title=Marine Le Pen: "Gas chambers are not a detail of World War II" |url=http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-les-chambres-a-gaz-ne-sont-pas-un-detail-27-03-2009-457192.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174705/http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-les-chambres-a-gaz-ne-sont-pas-un-detail-27-03-2009-457192.php |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Le Parisien}}

File:Marine Le Pen 481910683 0aa38c1c25 o d.jpg march, 3 May 2007|289x289px]]

Bernard-Henri Lévy, a strong opponent of the FN, described Le Pen's leadership of it as "far-right with a human face".{{cite web |last=Lévy |first=Bernard-Henri |date=26 March 2010 |title=Now, Marine Le Pen (in French) |url=http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-chroniques/2010-03-26/maintenant-marine-le-pen/989/0/438058 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126114357/http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-chroniques/2010-03-26/maintenant-marine-le-pen/989/0/438058 |archive-date=26 January 2017 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Le Point}} The measures have also attracted criticism from former allies as making the party too mainstream, abandoning long-held policies and ignoring grassroots support.{{Cite web |date=3 July 2021 |title=France's far-right Marine Le Pen under fire for going mainstream |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210703-france-s-far-right-marine-le-pen-under-fire-for-going-mainstream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405161753/https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210703-france-s-far-right-marine-le-pen-under-fire-for-going-mainstream |archive-date=5 April 2022 |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=France 24}}

In a 2010 RTL interview, Le Pen stated that her strategy was not about changing the FN's program but about showing it as it really is, instead of the image given to it by the media in the previous decades. The media and her political adversaries are accused of spreading an "unfair, wrong and caricatural" image of the National Front. She refuses the qualification of far-right or extreme-right, considering it a pejorative term: "How am I party of the extreme right? ... I don't think that our propositions are extreme propositions, whatever the subject".

In 2014, the American magazine Foreign Policy mentioned her, along with four other French people, in its list of the 100 global thinkers of the year, underlining the way she "renovated the image" of her party, which had become a model for other right-wing parties in Europe after her success in the European elections.{{cite magazine |last=Pottier |first=Jean-Marie |date=26 November 2014 |title=Five Frenchmen, including Marine Le Pen, in the 2014 Foreign Policy list |url=http://www.slate.fr/story/95101/francais-classement-penseurs-mondiaux |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818013409/http://www.slate.fr/story/95101/francais-classement-penseurs-mondiaux |archive-date=18 August 2016 |access-date=28 October 2016 |magazine=Slate |language=fr}} At a European level, she stopped the alliance built by her father with some right-wing extremist parties and refused to be part of a group with the radical Jobbik or the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn. Her transnational allies share the fact that they have officially condemned antisemitism, accepted a more liberal approach toward social matters, and are sometimes pro-Israel such as the Dutch PVV. French historian Nicolas Lebourg concluded that she is looked upon as a compass for them to follow while maintaining local particularities.{{cite book |last1=Crépon |first1=Sylvain |title=Les Faux-semblants du Front national: sociologie d'un parti politique |last2=Dézé |first2=Alexandre |last3=Mayer |first3=Nonna |author-link3=Nonna Mayer |date=2015 |publisher=Presses de Sciences Po |isbn=978-2-7246-1810-5 |location=Paris, France |pages=64–65 |language=fr}}{{cite web |last1=Domenach |first1=Hugo |last2=Lebourg |first2=Nicolas |date=10 October 2016 |title=Marine Le Pen have taken the leadership of the European far-right (in French) |url=http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-a-pris-le-leadership-de-l-extreme-droite-en-europe-10-10-2016-2074883_20.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013162945/http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-a-pris-le-leadership-de-l-extreme-droite-en-europe-10-10-2016-2074883_20.php |archive-date=13 October 2016 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Le Pointe}}

While other European populists embraced Donald Trump's candidacy in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, she said only, "For France, anything is better than Hillary Clinton". However, on 8 November 2016, she posted a tweet congratulating Trump on his election.{{cite web |date=8 November 2016 |title=Marine Le Pen on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel/status/796235915387699200 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110035730/https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel/status/796235915387699200 |archive-date=10 November 2016 |access-date=10 November 2016 |via=Twitter}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}}

Her social program and her support of SYRIZA in the 2015 Greek general elections led Nicolas Sarkozy to declare her a far-left politician sharing some of Jean-Luc Mélenchon's propositions. President François Hollande said she was talking "like a leaflet of the Communist Party". Éric Zemmour, then known as a journalist for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro, wrote during the 2012 presidential election that the FN had become a left-wing party under the influence of adviser Florian Philippot. She has also relaxed some political positions of the party, advocating for civil unions for same-sex couples instead of her party's previous opposition to legal recognition of same-sex partnerships, accepting current abortion laws, and withdrawing the restitution of the death penalty from her platform.{{cite news |author=Abel Mestre |date=6 November 2014 |title=When Marine Le Pen goes on her left (in French) |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2014/11/06/quand-marine-braconne-a-gauche_4519523_823448.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919044827/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2014/11/06/quand-marine-braconne-a-gauche_4519523_823448.html |archive-date=19 September 2015 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Le Monde}}{{cite news |last=Mestre |first=Abel |date=20 January 2015 |title=Marine Le Pen: " Yes, we expect SYRIZA's victory" (in French) |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/01/20/marine-le-pen-oui-nous-esperons-la-victoire-de-syriza_4559743_823448.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122162714/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/01/20/marine-le-pen-oui-nous-esperons-la-victoire-de-syriza_4559743_823448.html |archive-date=22 January 2017 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Le Monde}}

Despite Le Pen's attempts to make the National Front more palatable to the international community, the party and Le Pen herself continue to attract criticism: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she "will contribute to make other political forces stronger than the National Front";{{cite web |last=Kroet |first=Cynthia |date=5 May 2016 |title=Marine Le Pen slams Angela Merkel's 'humiliating,' 'outrageous' comments on French leadership |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-slams-angela-merkels-humiliating-outrageous-comments-on-french-leadership/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=Politico}} Israel still holds a negative opinion of her party;{{cite news |last=Faye |first=Olivier |date=26 April 2016 |title=On the foreign stage, Marine Le Pen victim of the demonization |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2016/04/26/a-l-etranger-marine-le-pen-confrontee-a-la-diabolisation_4908749_823448.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029114128/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2016/04/26/a-l-etranger-marine-le-pen-confrontee-a-la-diabolisation_4908749_823448.html |archive-date=29 October 2016 |access-date=28 October 2016 |work=Le Monde}}{{cite news |date=26 April 2016 |title=Angela Merkel wants to fight against the rise of the National Front |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2016/05/03/angela-merkel-veut-lutter-contre-la-montee-du-fn-en-france_4913118_3214.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031085237/http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2016/05/03/angela-merkel-veut-lutter-contre-la-montee-du-fn-en-france_4913118_3214.html |archive-date=31 October 2016 |access-date=30 October 2016 |work=Le Monde |language=fr}} and former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage – himself a frequent critic of Islam and immigration{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Georgia |date=5 January 2014 |title=Nigel Farage: 'the basic principle' of Enoch Powell's River of Blood speech is right |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10552055/Nigel-Farage-the-basic-principle-of-Enoch-Powells-River-of-Blood-speech-is-right.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106081743/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10552055/Nigel-Farage-the-basic-principle-of-Enoch-Powells-River-of-Blood-speech-is-right.html |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=7 January 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |date=12 March 2015 |title=Nigel Farage: British Muslim "fifth column" fuels immigration fear |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/12/nigel-farage-british-muslim-fifth-column-fuels-immigration-fear-ukip |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312130041/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/12/nigel-farage-british-muslim-fifth-column-fuels-immigration-fear-ukip |archive-date=12 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015 |work=The Guardian}} – has said, "I've never said a bad word about Marine Le Pen; I've never said a good word about her party".{{cite web |date=26 December 2016 |title=The Secret Diary of Nigel Farage: Why He Thinks Marine Le Pen Is Left Wing |url=http://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/parties/ukip/nigel-farage/nigel-farage-marine-le-pen-is-left-wing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227070638/http://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/parties/ukip/nigel-farage/nigel-farage-marine-le-pen-is-left-wing/ |archive-date=27 December 2016 |access-date=26 December 2016 |publisher=LBC}}

File:Banquet des Mille salle equinoxe public.jpg

As a president of the Front National, Marine Le Pen currently sits as an ex officio member among the FN Executive Office (8 members),{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/fonctions/bureau-executif/|title=The Executive Office|work=Front National|access-date=17 January 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025234217/http://www.frontnational.com/fonctions/bureau-executif/|archive-date=25 October 2011|url-status=dead}} the Executive Committee (42 members){{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/fonctions/bureau-politique/ |title=The Executive Committee |publisher=Front National |access-date=17 January 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025122334/http://www.frontnational.com/fonctions/bureau-politique/ |archive-date=25 October 2011}} and the Central Committee (3 ex officio members, 100 elected members, 20 co-opted members).{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/fonctions/comite-central/ |title=The Central Committee |publisher=Front National |access-date=21 January 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730205933/http://www.frontnational.com/fonctions/comite-central/ |archive-date=30 July 2012}}

During her opening speech in Tours on 16 January 2011, she advocated to "restore the political framework of the national community" and to implement the direct democracy which enables the "civic responsibility and the collective tie" thanks to the participation of public-spirited citizens for the decisions. The predominant political theme was the uncompromising defence of a protective and efficient state, which favours secularism, prosperity and liberties. She also denounced the "Europe of Brussels" which "everywhere imposed the destructive principles of ultra-liberalism and free trade, at the expense of public utilities, employment, social equity and even our economic growth which became within twenty years the weakest of the world".{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/congres-du-fn-a-tours-discours-d%E2%80%99investiture-de-marine-le-pen/|title=FN Congress in Tours: Marine Le Pen's opening speech|publisher=Front National|date=17 January 2011|access-date=24 January 2011|language=fr|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023626/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/congres-du-fn-a-tours-discours-d%E2%80%99investiture-de-marine-le-pen/|url-status=dead}} After the traditional Joan of Arc march and Labour Day march in Paris on 1 May 2011, she gave her first speech in front of 3,000 supporters.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/discours-du-1er-mai-2011/|title=1 May march: Marine Le Pen's speech|publisher=Front National|date=1 May 2011|access-date=3 May 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125140539/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/discours-du-1er-mai-2011/|archive-date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/1/briefing-page-briefs-971292619/|title=Marine Le Pen stakes out mainstream in speech|work=The Washington Times|date=1 May 2011|access-date=3 May 2011|archive-date=6 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506133758/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/1/briefing-page-briefs-971292619/|url-status=live}}

On 10 and 11 September 2011, she made her political comeback with the title "the voice of people, the spirit of France" in the convention center of Acropolis in Nice.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/programme-jdt-nice-2011.pdf|title=Programme of the "Summer days Marine 2012"|publisher=Front National|access-date=11 September 2011|language=fr}}{{dead link|date=April 2012}} During her closing speech she addressed immigration, insecurity, the economic and social situation, reindustrialization and 'strong state'.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/11-septembre-acropolis-nice-%E2%80%93-discours-de-marine-le-pen-videos/|title=Speech at the "Summer days of Marine Le Pen"|publisher=Front National|date=11 September 2011|access-date=11 September 2011|language=fr|archive-date=17 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217031820/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/11-septembre-acropolis-nice-%E2%80%93-discours-de-marine-le-pen-videos/|url-status=dead}} During a demonstration held in front of the Senate on 8 December 2011, she expressed in a speech her "firm and absolute opposition" to the right of foreigners to vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/2011/12/contre-le-droit-de-vote-des-etrangers-discours-de-marine-le-pen/|title=Against the right of foreigners to vote: Marine Le Pen's speech|publisher=Front National|date=8 December 2011|access-date=11 December 2011|language=fr}}{{Dead link|date=April 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She regularly held thematic press conferences{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/categorie-videos/conferences-de-presse/|title=Press conferences|publisher=Front National|access-date=23 November 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127010032/http://www.frontnational.com/categorie-videos/conferences-de-presse/|archive-date=27 November 2011|url-status=dead}} and interventions{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/categorie-videos/videos-thematiques/|title=Thematic videos|publisher=Front National|access-date=23 November 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127193843/http://www.frontnational.com/categorie-videos/videos-thematiques/|archive-date=27 November 2011|url-status=dead}} on varied issues in French, European and international politics.

{{Main|French presidential election, 2012|Marine Le Pen presidential campaign, 2012}}

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On 16 May 2011, Marine Le Pen's presidential candidacy was unanimously approved by the FN Executive Committee.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/05/16/97001-20110516FILWWW00642-la-candidature-le-pen-validee-par-le-fn.php|title=Marine Le Pen's candidacy validated by the FN|work=Le Figaro|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=16 May 2011|access-date=23 June 2011|language=fr|archive-date=27 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627014236/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/05/16/97001-20110516FILWWW00642-la-candidature-le-pen-validee-par-le-fn.php|url-status=live}} On 10 and 11 September 2011, she launched her presidential campaign in Nice. On 6 October 2011, she held a press conference to introduce the members of her presidential campaign team.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/marine-le-pen-presentation-de-son-equipe-de-campagne-presidentielle/|title=Marine Le Pen: presentation of her presidential campaign team|publisher=Front National|date=6 October 2011|access-date=9 October 2011|language=fr|archive-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111124502/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/marine-le-pen-presentation-de-son-equipe-de-campagne-presidentielle/|url-status=dead}}

In a speech in Paris on 19 November 2011, Le Pen presented the main themes of her presidential campaign: sovereignty of the people and democracy, Europe, re-industrialisation and a strong state, family and education, immigration and assimilation versus communitarianism, geopolitics and international politics.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/presentation-du-projet-presidentiel-de-marine-le-pen/|title=Marine Le Pen's speech: presentation of her presidential project|publisher=Front National|date=19 November 2011|access-date=19 November 2011|language=fr|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125161323/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/presentation-du-projet-presidentiel-de-marine-le-pen/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1676242.php/French-far-right-leader-Le-Pen-unveils-presidential-programme |title=French far-right leader Le Pen unveils presidential programme |work=Monsters and Critics |date=19 November 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212154946/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1676242.php/French-far-right-leader-Le-Pen-unveils-presidential-programme |archive-date=12 February 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/19/marine-le-pen-euro_n_1103099.html?ref=world|title=Marine Le Pen, France Far-Right Presidential Candidate, Advocates Euro Exit|work=HuffPost|author=Thibault Leroux|date=19 November 2011|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-date=12 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812205804/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/19/marine-le-pen-euro_n_1103099.html?ref=world|url-status=live}} At a press conference on 12 January 2012,{{cite web|url=http://lci.tf1.fr/politique/entre-bonnes-et-mauvaises-depenses-marine-le-pen-chiffre-son-6933823.html |title=Between "good" and "bad" expenditures, Marine Le Pen assesses her project |work=LCI |date=12 January 2012 |access-date=12 January 2012 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113045545/http://lci.tf1.fr/politique/entre-bonnes-et-mauvaises-depenses-marine-le-pen-chiffre-son-6933823.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 }} she presented a detailed assessment of her presidential project,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/chiffrage-du-projet-presidentiel/|title=Assessment of the presidential project|publisher=Front National|date=12 January 2011|access-date=16 January 2011|language=fr|archive-date=15 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115024934/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/chiffrage-du-projet-presidentiel/|url-status=dead}} and a plan to reduce France's debt.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/le-plan-de-desendettement-2013-de-la-france/|title=Plan of debt paydown of France|publisher=Front National|access-date=16 January 2011|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424020331/http://www.frontnational.com/le-plan-de-desendettement-2013-de-la-france/|url-status=dead}} At another press conference on 1 February 2012, she outlined her policies for the overseas departments and territories of France.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/presentation-du-projet-presidentiel-pour-loutre-mer-questions-des-journalistes/|title=Presentation of the presidential project for overseas|publisher=Front National|date=1 February 2012|access-date=6 February 2012|language=fr|archive-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205043103/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/presentation-du-projet-presidentiel-pour-loutre-mer-questions-des-journalistes/|url-status=live}} Many observers noted her tendency to focus on economic and social issues such as globalization and delocalisations, rather than immigration or law and order, which had until then been the central issues for the FN. On 11 December 2011, she held her first campaign meeting in Metz,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/2011/12/meeting-a-metz-discours-de-cloture-de-marine-le-pen/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123153447/http://www.frontnational.com/2011/12/meeting-a-metz-discours-de-cloture-de-marine-le-pen/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 January 2013|title=Meeting in Metz: Marine Le Pen's closing speech|work=Front National|date=12 December 2011|access-date=12 December 2011|language=fr}}{{cite web|url=http://lci.tf1.fr/politique/en-lorraine-marine-le-pen-veut-faire-entendre-la-voix-des-oublies-6871620.html |title=In Lorraine, Marine Le Pen wants to make listen the voice of "forgotten" people |work=La Chaîne Info (LCI, The News Channel) |date=11 December 2011 |access-date=12 December 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211231022/http://lci.tf1.fr/politique/en-lorraine-marine-le-pen-veut-faire-entendre-la-voix-des-oublies-6871620.html |archive-date=11 December 2011 }} and from early January to mid-April 2012, she held similar meetings each week in the major French cities. On 17 April 2012, between 6,000 and 7,000 people participated part in her final campaign meeting, held at the Zenith in Paris.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/grand-meeting-de-marine-le-pen-au-zenith-a-paris/|title=Marine Le Pen's big meeting at the Zenith in Paris|publisher=Front National|date=17 April 2012|access-date=23 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=22 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422105532/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/grand-meeting-de-marine-le-pen-au-zenith-a-paris/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://elections.lefigaro.fr/presidentielle-2012/2012/04/17/01039-20120417ARTFIG00687-le-pen-veut-leur-montrer-qu-ils-ont-tort.php|title=Le Pen wants "show them that they are wrong"|work=Le Figaro|date=18 April 2012|access-date=23 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=22 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422000356/http://elections.lefigaro.fr/presidentielle-2012/2012/04/17/01039-20120417ARTFIG00687-le-pen-veut-leur-montrer-qu-ils-ont-tort.php|url-status=live}}

On 13 March 2012, she announced that she had collected the 500 signatures required to take part in the presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/election-presidentielle-2012/marine-le-pen-affirme-avoir-500-signatures-13-03-2012-1440634_324.php|title=Marine Le Pen gets (at last) her 500 endorsements|work=Le Pointe|date=13 March 2012|access-date=22 March 2012|language=fr|archive-date=17 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317164903/http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/election-presidentielle-2012/marine-le-pen-affirme-avoir-500-signatures-13-03-2012-1440634_324.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/election-presidentielle-2012/marine-le-pen-acte-ii-13-03-2012-1440781_324.php|title=Endorsements – Marine Le Pen, Act II|work=Le Point|date=13 March 2012|access-date=22 March 2012|language=fr|archive-date=16 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316220306/http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/election-presidentielle-2012/marine-le-pen-acte-ii-13-03-2012-1440781_324.php|url-status=live}} On 19 March 2012, the Constitutional Council approved her candidacy, and those of nine competitors. On 22 April 2012, she polled 17.90% (6,421,426 votes) in the first round, finishing in third position behind François Hollande and incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy. She achieved better results, in both percentage vote-share and number of votes, than her father had in the 2002 presidential election (16.86%, 4,804,772 votes in the first round; 17.79%, 5,525,034 votes in the run-off).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2002/FE.html |title=2002 French presidential election: national results (first round and run-off) |publisher=Minister of the Interior |access-date=24 April 2012 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425214414/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2002/FE.html |archive-date=25 April 2012}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Hénin-Beaumont - Marine Le Pen au Parlement des Invisibles le dimanche 15 avril 2012 (M).JPG

| caption1 = Marine Le Pen during her presidential campaign, on 15 April 2012

| image2 = Présidentielle française 2012 premier tour.png

| caption2 = First round results in 2012: candidates with the most votes by departments (mainland France, overseas and French citizens living abroad). Marine Le Pen came first in Gard.

}}

Le Pen polled first in Gard (25.51%, 106,646 votes), with Sarkozy and Hollande polling 24.86% (103,927 votes) and 24.11% (100,778 votes) respectively.{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/091/030/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Gard|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=26 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424220402/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/091/030/index.html|url-status=live}} She also came first in her municipal stronghold of Hénin-Beaumont (35.48%, 4,924 votes), where Hollande and Sarkozy polled 26.82% (3,723 votes) and 15.76% (2,187 votes) respectively.{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/031/062/062427.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Hénin-Beaumont|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=26 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424223739/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/031/062/062427.html|url-status=live}} She achieved her highest results east of the line from Le Havre in the north to Perpignan in the south,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17824436|title=What next for Marine Le Pen's National Front?|work=BBC News|author=Hugh Schofield|date=24 April 2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502192220/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17824436|url-status=live}} and conversely she won fewer votes in western France, especially cities such as Paris, overseas and among French citizens living abroad (5.95%, 23,995 votes).{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/000/099/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results among the French citizens living abroad|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425204353/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/000/099/index.html|url-status=live}} However, she polled well in two rural departments in western France: Orne (20.00%, 34,757 votes){{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/025/061/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Orne|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=2 May 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424230648/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/025/061/index.html|url-status=live}} and Sarthe (19.17%, 62,516 votes).{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/052/072/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Sarthe|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=2 May 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424220128/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/052/072/index.html|url-status=live}}

Her highest regional result was in Picardy (25.03%, 266,041 votes),{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/022/022.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Picardy|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424223657/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/022/022.html|url-status=live}} her highest departmental result in Vaucluse (27.03%, 84,585 votes),{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/093/084/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Vaucluse|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424220428/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/093/084/index.html|url-status=live}} and her highest overseas result in Saint Pierre and Miquelon (15.81%, 416 votes).{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/000/975/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Saint Pierre and Miquelon|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424215824/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/000/975/index.html|url-status=live}}

File:2012 French presidential election - First round - Majority vote (Metropolitan France, communes).svg

She achieved her lowest regional result in Île-de-France (12.28%, 655,926 votes),{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/011/011.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Île-de-France|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425213000/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/011/011.html|url-status=live}} her lowest departmental result in Paris (6.20%, 61,503 votes),{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/011/075/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Paris|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425204529/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/011/075/index.html|url-status=live}} and her lowest overseas result in Wallis and Futuna (2.37%, 152 votes).{{cite web|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/000/986/index.html|title=2012 French presidential election: first round results in Wallis and Futuna|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 April 2012|language=fr|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424215834/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/PR2012/000/986/index.html|url-status=live}}

French sociologist Sylvain Crépon, who analysed the social and occupational groups of the FN voters in 2012, explained: "The FN vote is made up of the victims of globalisation. It is the small shopkeepers who are going under because of the economic crisis and competition from the out-of-town hypermarkets; it is low-paid workers from the private sector; the unemployed. The FN scores well among people living in poverty, who have a real fear about how to make ends meet." Crépon also analysed the increase of the FN vote in "rural" areas and the recent sociological changes in these areas made up of small provincial towns and new housing-estate commuter belts built on the distant outskirts of the cities: "The rural underclass is no longer agricultural. It is people who have fled the big cities and the inner suburbs because they can no longer afford to live there. Many of these people will have had recent experience of living in the banlieues (high immigration suburbs) – and have had contact with the problems of insecurity." Commentators also pointed that there were more young people and women voting for the party in 2012.

On 1 May 2012, during a speech delivered in Paris after the traditional Joan of Arc and Labor Day march, Le Pen refused to back either Sarkozy or Hollande in the run-off on 6 May. Addressing the party's annual rally at Place de l'Opéra, she vowed to cast a blank ballot and told her supporters to vote with their conscience, saying: "Hollande and Sarkozy – neither of them will save you. On Sunday I will cast a blank protest vote. I have made my choice. Each of you will make yours." Accusing both candidates of surrendering to Europe and financial markets, she asked: "Who between Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy will impose the austerity plan in the most servile way? Who will submit the best to the instructions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the European Commission?".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17906203|title=France election: Le Pen 'to cast blank vote' in run-off|work=BBC News|date=1 May 2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502000733/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17906203|url-status=live}}

Following the increase in support for the FN in the presidential election, Le Pen announced the formation an electoral coalition to contest the June 2012 parliamentary elections called the Blue Marine Gathering. Standing as a candidate in the Pas-de-Calais' 11th constituency, Le Pen won 42.36% of the vote, well ahead of the Socialist representative Philippe Kemel (23.50%) and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon (21.48%). She was defeated by Kemel in the second round with 49.86% and filed an appeal with the Constitutional Council, which was rejected despite an observation of some irregularities. Nationally, the FN had two lawmakers elected: Le Pen's niece Marion Maréchal and Gilbert Collard.

In 2014, Le Pen led the party to further electoral advances in the municipal and senatorial elections: eleven mayors and two senators were elected, with the FN entering the upper chamber for the first time.

File:Lille - Meeting de Marine Le Pen pour les élections régionales, le 30 novembre 2015 à Lille Grand Palais (39).JPG

On 24 May 2014, the FN received the most votes in the European elections in France, with a 24.90% share. Marine Le Pen came in first place in her North-West constituency with 33.60%. 25 FN representatives were elected to the European Parliament from France. They voted against the Juncker Commission when it was formed in July 2014. One year later, Le Pen announced the formation of Europe of Nations and Freedom, a parliamentary grouping composed of the National Front, the Freedom Party of Austria, Lega Nord of Italy, the Dutch Party for Freedom, the Congress of the New Right from Poland, the Flemish Vlaams Belang of Belgium, and British independent MEP Janice Atkinson, formerly of UKIP. Le Pen's first attempt to assemble this grouping in 2014 had failed due to UKIP and the Sweden Democrats refusing to join, as well as some controversial statements from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. Le Pen sat on the commission for international trade. In 2016, Politico ranked her as the second most influential MEP after Martin Schulz.

In April 2015, Le Pen's father gave two interviews including controversial statements about World War II and about minorities in France, causing a political crisis in the FN. Marine Le Pen organised a postal vote to ask FN members to change the party's statutes to expel her father. J-M Le Pen pursued his movement and the justice cancelled the vote. On 25 August, the FN executive office voted to expel him from the party he had founded forty years earlier. Marine's dependence on her closest adviser, Florian Philippot, a former left-wing technocrat, was observed. The party instigated a purge to expel the members who had opposed the changes within the FN under Marine Le Pen's leadership.

Le Pen subsequently announced her candidacy for the presidency of the regional council of Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie in the 2015 regional elections, though she expressed her regret over the proximity of these elections to the next presidential election. On 6 December, she finished first with 40.6% of the vote, but the Socialist candidate (third with 18.12%) withdrew and declared support for her right-wing opponent Xavier Bertrand, who won with 57.80% of the vote. Her niece Marion also lost, under similar circumstances, by a smaller margin.

{{Main|French presidential election, 2017}}

File:Marine Présidente 2017.png

Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy for the 2017 French presidential election on 8 April 2016. She appointed FN Senator David Rachline as her campaign manager. The FN had difficulty finding funding because of the refusal of French banks to provide credit. Instead, the FN borrowed {{euro|link=yes}}9 million from the First Czech-Russian Bank in Moscow in 2014, despite European Union sanctions placed on Russia following the annexation of Crimea. In February 2016, the FN asked Russia for another loan, this time of {{euro|link=no}}27 million, but the second loan was not paid.{{cite news|last1=Walt|first1=Vivienne|title=Why France's Marine Le Pen Is Doubling Down on Russia Support|url=https://time.com/4627780/russia-national-front-marine-le-pen-putin/|magazine=Time|access-date=11 February 2017|archive-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210190146/http://time.com/4627780/russia-national-front-marine-le-pen-putin/|url-status=live}}

File:Lille - Meeting de Marine Le Pen pour l'élection présidentielle, le 26 mars 2017 à Lille Grand Palais (132).JPG

Political analysts suggested that Le Pen's strong position in opinion polls was due to the absence of a primary in her party (consolidating her leadership), the news of the migrant crisis and terrorist attacks in France (reinforcing her political positions) and the very right-wing campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy in the Republican primary (enlarging her themes). In a 2016 interview with the BBC, Le Pen said that Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election would help her, saying that Trump had "made possible what had previously been presented as impossible".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37964776|title=Marine Le Pen: Trump win boosts my chances|date=13 November 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=30 November 2016|archive-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128111354/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37964776|url-status=live}} However, she said she would not officially launch her campaign before February 2017, waiting for the results of the Republican and Socialist primaries, and preferred to keep a low media profile and use thematic think tanks to expand and promote her political program. As a result, her rare media appearances attracted large audiences (2.3 million viewers for Vie politique on TF1 on 11 September 2016 and 4 million for Une ambition intime on M6 on 16 October).

The FN's communications also received media attention: a new Mitterrand-inspired poster depicting her in a rural landscape with the slogan "Appeased France" was a response to surveys indicating that she remained controversial for large parts of the French electorate. Satirical treatment of this poster led to the slogan being changed to: "In the name of the people". Meanwhile, the FN logo and the name Le Pen were removed from campaign posters.

Le Pen launched her candidacy on 4 and 5 February 2017 in Lyon, promising a referendum on France's membership of the European Union if she could not achieve her territorial, monetary, economic and legislative goals for the country within six months renegotiation with the EU. Her first campaign appearance on television, four days later, received the highest viewing figures on France 2 since the previous presidential election (16.70% with 3.7 million viewers).{{cite web|url=http://www.leprogres.fr/france-monde/2017/02/10/marine-le-pen-explose-les-records-de-l-emission-politique|title=Marine Le Pen explose les records de "L'Émission politique" (in French)|date=10 February 2017|website=Le Progrès|access-date=11 February 2017|archive-date=12 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212100657/http://www.leprogres.fr/france-monde/2017/02/10/marine-le-pen-explose-les-records-de-l-emission-politique|url-status=live}} Her 2017 presidential campaign emphasized Le Pen as a softer, feminine figure, with a blue rose as a prominent campaign symbol.{{Cite journal|last=Geva|first=Dorit|date=1 March 2020|title=Daughter, Mother, Captain: Marine Le Pen, Gender, and Populism in the French National Front|url=https://academic.oup.com/sp/article/27/1/1/5259255|journal=Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society|language=en|volume=27|issue=1|pages=1–26|doi=10.1093/sp/jxy039|issn=1072-4745|doi-access=free|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707024358/https://academic.oup.com/sp/article/27/1/1/5259255|url-status=live}}

{{Main|2017 Marine Le Pen presidential campaign}}

On 2 March 2017, the European Parliament voted to revoke Le Pen's immunity from prosecution for tweeting violent imagery. Le Pen had tweeted an image of beheaded journalist James Foley in December 2015, which was deleted following a request from Foley's family. Le Pen also faced prosecution for allegedly spending EU Parliament funds on her own political party; the lifting of her immunity from prosecution did not apply to the ongoing investigation into the misuse of parliamentary funds by the FN.{{cite news|last=McAuley|first=James|title=European Parliament lifts Marine Le Pen's immunity for tweeting gruesome images of violence|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/european-parliament-lifts-marine-le-pens-immunity-for-tweeting-gruesome-images-of-violence/2017/03/02/99bb9c9a-ff5e-11e6-9b78-824ccab94435_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2 March 2017|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302201536/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/european-parliament-lifts-marine-le-pens-immunity-for-tweeting-gruesome-images-of-violence/2017/03/02/99bb9c9a-ff5e-11e6-9b78-824ccab94435_story.html|url-status=live}}

File:Marine Le Pen and Vladimir Putin (2017-03-24) 02.jpg

Le Pen met with several incumbent heads of state including Lebanon's Michel Aoun,{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20170220-france-far-right-marine-le-pen-lebanon-visit-presidential-election|title=French far-right leader Le Pen visits Beirut as she eyes Elysée Palace – France 24|date=20 February 2017|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327220420/http://www.france24.com/en/20170220-france-far-right-marine-le-pen-lebanon-visit-presidential-election|url-status=live}} Chad's Idriss Déby,{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-lepen-chad-idUSKBN16S1XB|title=France's Le Pen focuses on terrorism in Chad leader visit|date=21 March 2017|work=Reuters|last1=Irish|first1=Madjiasra Nako|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-date=18 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518022134/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-lepen-chad-idUSKBN16S1XB|url-status=live}} and Russia's Vladimir Putin.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/world/europe/marine-le-pen-of-france-meets-with-putin-in-moscow.html|title=Marine Le Pen of France Meets With Vladimir Putin in Moscow|first=Adam|last=Nossiter|date=24 March 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327111215/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/world/europe/marine-le-pen-of-france-meets-with-putin-in-moscow.html|url-status=live}}

The ground floor of the building which housed Le Pen's campaign headquarters was targeted by an arson attempt during the early morning of 13 April 2017.{{cite news|title=Le QG de campagne de Marine Le Pen visé par une tentative d'incendie|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/article/2017/04/13/le-qg-de-campagne-de-marine-le-pen-vise-par-une-tentative-d-incendie_5110464_4854003.html|agency=Agence France-Presse|newspaper=Le Monde|date=13 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017|archive-date=13 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413211358/http://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/article/2017/04/13/le-qg-de-campagne-de-marine-le-pen-vise-par-une-tentative-d-incendie_5110464_4854003.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news | last1=Samuel | first1=Henry | title=Marine Le Pen's Campaign HQ Target of 'Arson Attack' | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/13/marine-le-pens-campaign-hq-target-arson-attack/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/13/marine-le-pens-campaign-hq-target-arson-attack/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | date=13 April 2017 | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | access-date=13 April 2017}}{{cbignore}}

In 2017, Le Pen argued that France as a nation bore no responsibility for the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, in which Paris policemen arrested Jewish citizens for deportation to Auschwitz as part of the Holocaust. She repeated a Gaullist thesis according to which France was not represented by the Vichy regime, but by Charles de Gaulle's Free France.{{cite web|last1=Masters|first1=James|last2=Deygas|first2=Margaux|title=Marine Le Pen sparks outrage over Holocaust comments|date=10 April 2017 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/10/europe/france-marine-le-pen-holocaust/|publisher=CNN|access-date=16 April 2017|archive-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414210557/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/10/europe/france-marine-le-pen-holocaust/|url-status=live}}

On 20 April 2017, in the wake of a shooting targeting police officers which was being treated as a suspected terrorist attack, Le Pen cancelled a planned campaign event. The next day, she called for the closure of all "extremist" mosques, a remark that was criticised by Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who accused her of attempting to "capitalise" on the incident. She also called for the expulsion of hate preachers and people on the French security services' watch list, and the revocation of their citizenship. The Guardian said the attack could serve as "ammunition" for right-wing candidates in the election, including Le Pen.{{cite web|last1=Willsher|first1=Kim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/21/fears-that-paris-shooting-will-affect-presidental-election-as-first-round-looms|title=Fears that Paris shooting will affect presidential election as first round looms|work=The Guardian|date=20 April 2017|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127095605/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/21/fears-that-paris-shooting-will-affect-presidental-election-as-first-round-looms|url-status=live}}

On 21 April 2017, United States President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that the shooting would have "a big effect on the presidential election".{{cite web | last1=Jacobs | first1=Peter | title=Trump Predicts the Attack in Paris Will Have a 'Big Effect on Presidential Election!' | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-predicts-paris-terror-attack-effect-french-presidential-election-2017-4 | date=21 April 2017 | website=Business Insider | access-date=22 April 2017 | archive-date=21 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421134852/http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-predicts-paris-terror-attack-effect-french-presidential-election-2017-4 | url-status=live }} Later that day, Trump said that Le Pen was the "strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France".{{cite web | last1=Quigley | first1=Aidan | title=Trump Expresses Support for Le Pen | url=http://www.politico.eu/article/trump-expresses-support-for-french-candidate-le-pen/ | date=21 April 2017 | work=Politico | access-date=22 April 2017 | archive-date=23 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423072043/http://www.politico.eu/article/trump-expresses-support-for-french-candidate-le-pen/ | url-status=live }} Meanwhile, former US President Barack Obama phoned Emmanuel Macron to express his support.{{cite web | last1=Amaro | first1=Silvia | title=Obama Wishes French Presidential Hopeful Macron Good Luck Ahead of Key Vote | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/21/obama-wishes-french-presidential-hopeful-macron.html | date=21 April 2017 | publisher=CNBC | access-date=22 April 2017 | archive-date=21 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421105508/http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/21/obama-wishes-french-presidential-hopeful-macron.html | url-status=live }}

File:Élection présidentielle de 2017 par département T1.svg

Le Pen won 21.3% of the vote (7.7 million votes) in the first round of the election on 23 April 2017, placing her second behind Macron, who received 24.0%,{{cite web|title=Election présidentielle 2017|url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/presidentielle-2017/FE.html|publisher=French Ministry of the Interior|access-date=25 April 2017|archive-date=15 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515172723/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/presidentielle-2017/FE.html|url-status=live}} meaning that they would face each other in the run-off on 7 May. On 24 April 2017, the day after the first round of voting, Le Pen announced that she would temporarily step down as the leader of the FN in an attempt to unite voters.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-steps-down-as-front-national-leader-1.3059180|title=Marine Le Pen steps down as Front National leader|date=24 April 2017|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424231632/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-steps-down-as-front-national-leader-1.3059180|url-status=live}} "The President of the Republic is the president of all the French people, they must bring them all together", she said.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel/status/856574805692362752|title=Marine Le Pen on Twitter|via=Twitter|date=24 April 2017|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=25 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425134121/https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel/status/856574805692362752|url-status=live}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}}

After progressing to the second round, she said that the campaign was now "a referendum for or against France" and tried to convince those voting for the hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon to support her. This choice was later criticised by those in her party who believed that she had abandoned François Fillon's voters in spite of their conservative and anti-immigration stance. On 1 May 2017, a video emerged of Le Pen copying sections of a speech by Francois Fillon word-for-word.{{cite news|date=2 May 2017|last=Willsher|first=Kim|title=Marine Le Pen accused of plagiarising Fillon in May Day speech|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/02/marine-le-pen-francois-fillon-phrases-may-day-speech|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-date=5 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505230650/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/02/marine-le-pen-francois-fillon-phrases-may-day-speech|url-status=live}}

In the first days of the second round campaign, the gap in opinion polls began to narrow. On 25 April, Le Pen went to Amiens in an unexpected visit to meet workers at the Whirlpool factory while Macron was in a meeting with local officials at the same time, with Le Pen receiving a positive welcome. Macron then also visited the factory workers, but was booed by a hostile crowd.

Le Pen was generally regarded as the loser of the televised debate between the two candidates. Her performance was strongly criticised by politicians, commentators, and members of her own party, and described as a "sabotage" by conservative journalist Éric Zemmour. Le Pen herself subsequently acknowledged that she had "misfired" during the debate. In the following days, she began to slip in opinion polls.

On 7 May, she conceded defeat to Emmanuel Macron. Her vote share of 33.9% was lower than any polls had predicted, and was attributed to her poor performance in the debate. She immediately announced a "full transformation" of the FN in the following months.

On 18 May 2017, Le Pen announced that she would run as a candidate at the parliamentary elections in the Pas-de-Calais's 11th constituency, in her fifth attempt to be elected as a deputy. She received just under 46% of the vote in the first round, and won the second with just under 58% against Anne Roquet of En Marche. She became a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the National Assembly. She then resigned as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/818570/Marine-Le-Pen-French-election-seat-parliament-Emmanuel-Macron|title=Marine Le Pen elected to French parliament in her fifth attempt|agency=Express|author=Rebecca Flood|date=18 June 2017|language=en|access-date=26 December 2017|archive-date=26 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130552/https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/818570/Marine-Le-Pen-French-election-seat-parliament-Emmanuel-Macron|url-status=live}}

In 2019, it was reported that Le Pen no longer wants France to leave the European Union, nor for it to leave the euro currency. Instead, it was reported she and her party wants to change the EU bloc from the inside along with allied parties.{{cite news |last= Chrisafis |first= Angelique |date= 26 May 2019 |title= Marine Le Pen ahead of Macron's centrist party, say French exit polls |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/26/marine-le-pen-national-rally-ahead-of-macron-centrist-party-french-exit-polls |work= The Guardian |access-date= 30 January 2020 |archive-date= 10 March 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200310054849/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/26/marine-le-pen-national-rally-ahead-of-macron-centrist-party-french-exit-polls |url-status= live }}

On 4 July 2021, she was elected again to lead the National Rally with no opposing candidate.{{cite news |title=France: Far-right National Rally reelects Marine Le Pen |url=https://www.dw.com/en/france-far-right-national-rally-reelects-marine-le-pen/a-58154008 |access-date=4 July 2021 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=4 July 2021 |archive-date=4 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704131011/https://www.dw.com/en/france-far-right-national-rally-reelects-marine-le-pen/a-58154008 |url-status=live }}

File:Simple 2022 French Presidential Election First Round Map.svg

File:Simplified 2022 French Legislative Election Results Map Second Round.svgIn January 2020, Le Pen announced her third candidacy for president of France in the 2022 presidential election.{{cite web | last=Pecnard | first=Jules | title=Présidentielle 2022: pourquoi Marine Le Pen s'est-elle déclarée si tôt? | publisher=BFMTV | date=17 January 2020 | url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/extreme-droite/presidentielle-2022-pourquoi-marine-le-pen-s-est-elle-declaree-si-tot_AN-202001170096.html | language=fr | access-date=23 December 2021 | archive-date=23 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223182031/https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/extreme-droite/presidentielle-2022-pourquoi-marine-le-pen-s-est-elle-declaree-si-tot_AN-202001170096.html | url-status=live }} On 15 January 2022, she launched her campaign.

In February 2022, during Le Pen's presidential campaign, Stéphane Ravier, the only Senator from her political party, publicly endorsed her far-right presidential rival Zemmour.{{Cite news|date=13 February 2022|title=France's Le Pen suffers high profile defection to rival Zemmour|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frances-le-pen-suffers-high-profile-defection-rival-zemmour-2022-02-13/|access-date=13 February 2022|archive-date=13 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213121511/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frances-le-pen-suffers-high-profile-defection-rival-zemmour-2022-02-13/|url-status=live}}

During the first round of the election, Le Pen won second place, with 23.15% of the votes. On 22 April, she participated in a televised debate against Macron.{{Cite web |date=20 April 2022 |title=Macron and Le Pen clash on Russia, economy in feisty debate ahead of presidential run-off |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220420-live-macron-and-le-pen-face-off-in-debate-ahead-of-french-presidential-run-off |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=France24}} She was defeated in a run-off against Emmanuel Macron on 24 April: on this occasion, she obtained 41.45% of the votes, the highest share of the vote for a nationalist candidate in French history.{{Cite web | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/le-pen-concedes-french-presidential-elections-handing-reelection-victory-to-macron/3660399/ | title=To Europe's Relief, France's Macron Wins but Far-Right Gains | date=24 April 2022 }}

It was remarked that a Є10.6 million loan provided by the Hungarian bank MKB Bank chaired by Lőrinc Mészáros, a close ally of Viktor Orbán, was used to finance her presidential campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/kremlin-russia-hungary-viktor-orban-oil-gazprom-media-gabor-kubatov-fidesz-party |title=The Kremlin's growing influence in Orbán's Hungary |date=23 May 2024 }} The transaction depended on Orban to be completed; normally the bankers would not have done it.{{cite news |url=https://444.hu/2022/05/30/orban-viktor-bankjanak-nevezi-a-bankholdingot-hosszu-cikkeben-a-financial-times |title=FT: Mészáros vonakodott, de Orbán utasítására mégis hitelezte az MKB le Pen kampányát |date=30 May 2022 }}

During the 2022 French legislative election which followed soon after, she led her party into winning its highest number of seats in the National Assembly since its founding, RN eventually becoming the largest opposition party in Parliament.{{Cite web |date=19 June 2022 |title=France: Marine Le Pen's National Rally estimated to win 89 seats |url=https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220619-marine-le-pen-s-national-rally-estimated-to-win-89-seats |access-date=19 June 2022 |website=France 24 |language=en}} Days later, she was elected by acclamation as leader of the parliamentary National Rally party in the Assembly, a position she currently holds.

In November 2022 Le Pen stood down from chairing the National Rally. She was succeeded by Jordan Bardella who had previously acted as the party's interim leader during her presidential campaign.{{Cite web |date=5 November 2022 |title=France's far-right party RN elects new president to replace Le Pen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/05/frances-far-right-party-rn-elects-new-president-to-replace-le-pen |access-date=5 November 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

{{Main|Political positions of Marine Le Pen}}

File:Santiago Abascal y Marine Le Pen.jpg, 28 January 2022]]

File:Marche contre l' antisémitisme Paris 12-10-2023 - 4.jpg in Paris, 12 November 2023]]

{{See|Immigration to France}}

Le Pen and the RN advocate a tough line on immigration, believing that multiculturalism has failed,{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce56c4dc-3478-11e0-9ebc-00144feabdc0.html|title=Le Pen daughter applauds Cameron|work=Financial Times|first=Peggy|last=Hollinger|date=9 February 2011|access-date=11 February 2011|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924144151/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce56c4dc-3478-11e0-9ebc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Db1vMPpj|url-status=live}} and oppose what they see as the "Islamisation" of France.{{cite web|url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/le-pen-says-she%E2%80%99s-no-wilders|title=Le Pen says she's no Wilders|publisher=Radio Netherlands Worldwide|date=1 June 2011|access-date=6 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607220930/http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/le-pen-says-she%E2%80%99s-no-wilders|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead}} Le Pen has called for a moratorium on legal immigration.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=106307|title=Marine Le Pen: "If I was president..."|work=Paris-Match (Nations Presse Info)|date=8 July 2010|access-date=26 November 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218111522/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=106307|archive-date=18 February 2013}} She would repeal laws allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents, and has argued that benefits provided to immigrants be reduced to remove incentives for new immigrants.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/lettre-ouverte-clandestins.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/66vX5x3A7?url=http://www.nationspresse.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/lettre-ouverte-clandestins.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2012|title=Marine Le Pen's open letter to policemen, gendarmes and customs officers concerning the policy of fight against illegal immigration|work=Nations Presse Info|date=5 July 2011|access-date=5 July 2011|language=fr}} Following the beginning of the Arab Spring and the European migrant crisis, she called for France to withdraw from the Schengen Area and reinstate border controls.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6839|archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20151107014841/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6839|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2015|title=Schengen: Sarkozy admits the extent of the disaster but does not act ! We must leave Schengen Area|publisher=Front National|date=23 April 2011|access-date=25 April 2011|language=fr}}{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6840 |title=The French-Italian summit of 26 April will be no use if France does not announce that it definitively breaks with Schengen Agreement |publisher=Front National |date=25 April 2011 |access-date=25 April 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824012746/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6840 |archive-date=24 August 2011 }}

She supports restrictions on ritual slaughter.

Le Pen took part in the March for the Republic and Against Antisemitism in Paris on 12 November 2023 in response to the rise in antisemitism since the start of the Gaza war.{{Cite web |last1=Bajos |first1=Sandrine |last2=Balle |first2=Catherine |last3=Bérard |first3=Christophe |last4=Berrod |first4=Nicolas |last5=((Bureau)) |first5=Éric |last6=Choulet |first6=Frédéric |last7=Collet |first7=Emeline |last8=Souza |first8=Pascale De |last9=Doukhan |first9=David |display-authors=etal|date=11 November 2023 |title=Marche contre l'antisémitisme : François Hollande, Marylise Léon, Agnès Jaoui... pourquoi ils s'engagent |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/marche-contre-lantisemitisme-francois-hollande-marylise-leon-agnes-jaoui-pourquoi-ils-sengagent-11-11-2023-WREACIPV4BEOZEDCWAGRM5ZNRA.php |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Le Parisien|language=fr-FR}}

On energy, Le Pen advocates a policy of energy independence for France, with a strong emphasis on support for nuclear and hydroelectric power. Le Pen is strongly opposed to wind energy due to its intermittency, tax burden in utility bills and impact on the landscape and built heritage. She is proposing a moratorium on new wind energy development on both sea and land from 2022 and the eventual dismantling of all current wind turbines.{{cite web |url=https://mlafrance.fr/pdfs/manifeste-m-la-france-programme-presidentiel.pdf |title=Projet pour La France de Marine Le Pen |website=Marine Le Pen 2022 |date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410190956/https://mlafrance.fr/pdfs/manifeste-m-la-france-programme-presidentiel.pdf |archive-date=10 April 2022}} Le Pen favours protectionism as an alternative to free trade. She supports economic nationalism,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6112 |title=In order to absorb our debt: repeal the 1973 Law! |publisher=Front National |date=30 November 2010 |access-date=9 December 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201195017/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6112 |archive-date=1 December 2010 }} the separation of investment and retail banking,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=7553|title=Dexia fall: Marine Le Pen's proposals in order to get over the banking stagnation|publisher=Front National|date=5 October 2011|access-date=9 October 2011|language=fr|archive-date=12 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412020720/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=7553|url-status=dead}} and energy diversification,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=7343 |title=Marcoule's nuclear accident: the urgency to secure the plants |publisher=Front National |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=18 September 2011 |language=fr }}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and is opposed to the privatization of public services and social security,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6524 |title=New scandalous rise in gas prices: the state must regain the control of the situation |publisher=Front National |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=27 April 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825013929/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6524 |archive-date=25 August 2011}} speculation on international commodity markets, and is opposed to the Common Agricultural Policy.{{cite news|url=http://www.lejdd.fr/Election-presidentielle-2012/Actualite/Marine-Le-Pen-en-tenue-de-campagne-au-Salon-de-l-Agriculture-274415/|title=Marine Le Pen visits the Paris International Agricultural Show|work=Le Journal du Dimanche|date=25 February 2011|access-date=26 February 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228073401/http://www.lejdd.fr/Election-presidentielle-2012/Actualite/Marine-Le-Pen-en-tenue-de-campagne-au-Salon-de-l-Agriculture-274415/|archive-date=28 February 2011|url-status=dead}} Le Pen also supports maintaining France's system of sectoral bargaining and opposed Macron's reforms of the labour code.{{cite web | url=https://rassemblementnational.fr/communiques/reaction-du-front-national-a-la-presentation-des-ordonnances-de-reforme-du-code-du-travail | title=Réaction du Front National à la présentation des ordonnances de réforme du code du travail }}

Le Pen is opposed to globalization, which she blames for various negative economic trends, and opposes European Union supranationalism and federalism, instead favouring a loosely confederate 'Europe of the Nations'.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=3699 |title=Sarkozy dupes the French while with his cronies at Davos |publisher=Front National |date=27 January 2010 |access-date=4 November 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727111146/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=3699 |archive-date=27 July 2011}} As of 2019, she no longer advocates for France to leave the EU or euro currency; she had previously called both for France to leave the Eurozone{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/%C2%AB-le-vrai-probleme-c%E2%80%99est-l%E2%80%99euro-%C2%BB/|title=Marine Le Pen: "The real problem is the Euro!"|work=Front National|date=4 May 2010|access-date=4 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=21 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521170918/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/%C2%AB-le-vrai-probleme-c%E2%80%99est-l%E2%80%99euro-%C2%BB/|url-status=dead}} and for a referendum on France leaving the EU.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36653390|title=Brexit 'most important moment since Berlin Wall': Le Pen|work=BBC News|access-date=28 June 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914024458/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36653390|url-status=live}} She has been a vocal opponent of the Treaty of Lisbon,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=1763|title=Reform of the French Post's statute: a serious undermining of the public utilities|publisher=Front National|date=3 October 2009|access-date=29 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927132646/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=1763|url-status=dead}} and opposes EU membership for Turkey and Ukraine.{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+CRE+20090312+ITEM-010+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN&query=INTERV&detail=4-256|title=European Parliament resolution on Turkey's progress report 2008 (explanations of vote)|publisher=European Parliament|date=12 March 2009|access-date=20 November 2010|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629103601/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2F%2FEP%2F%2FTEXT+CRE+20090312+ITEM-010+DOC+XML+V0%2F%2FEN&language=EN&query=INTERV&detail=4-256|url-status=live}}"[http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/marine_le_pen_ukraines_association_with_eu___best_option_305625 Marine Le Pen: Ukraine's association with EU – best option] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308061856/http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/marine_le_pen_ukraines_association_with_eu___best_option_305625 |date=8 March 2014 }}". Ukrinform. 26 June 2013 She proposes the replacement of the World Trade Organization{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/protections-aux-frontieres-comment-relancer-l%E2%80%99industrie-et-l%E2%80%99emploi/|title=Protections at boundaries: how to revive industry and employment ?|publisher=Front National|date=10 June 2011|access-date=5 November 2011|language=fr|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055257/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/protections-aux-frontieres-comment-relancer-l%E2%80%99industrie-et-l%E2%80%99emploi/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=149279|title=Marine Le Pen's press conference at the National Press Club in Washington|work=Nations Presse Info|date=3 November 2011|access-date=4 November 2011|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218093013/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=149279|archive-date=18 February 2013}} and the abolition of the International Monetary Fund.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6965 |title=Marine Le Pen launches the debate about the future of IMF |publisher=Front National |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=21 May 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602151724/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6965 |archive-date=2 June 2011}}

On foreign policy, Le Pen has criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.{{cite news |title=Controverse avec Erdogan: Marine Le Pen appelle à durcir la réponse |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20201025-controverse-avec-erdogan-marine-le-pen-appelle-%C3%A0-durcir-la-r%C3%A9ponse |publisher=France 24 |date=25 October 2020 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410135015/https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20201025-controverse-avec-erdogan-marine-le-pen-appelle-%C3%A0-durcir-la-r%C3%A9ponse |url-status=live }} She also criticised the privileged relations that France maintains with countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which she said are helping to fund and arm Islamist fundamentalists,{{cite news |title=Marine Le Pen voit un mensonge d'Etat sur l'Arabie et le Qatar |url=https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/marine-le-pen-voit-un-mensonge-d-etat-sur-l-arabie-et-le-qatar-1004218 |work=Capital.fr |date=13 January 2015 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410135531/https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/marine-le-pen-voit-un-mensonge-d-etat-sur-l-arabie-et-le-qatar-1004218 |url-status=live }} while encouraging closer ties with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which she said "fight fundamentalism".{{cite news|work=The New Arab|title=French far-right 'courting UAE funding' for presidential election campaign|date=30 October 2016|url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/french-far-right-courting-uae-funding-presidential-election-campaign}} She has said she believes that Ukraine has been "subjugated" by the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/2014/12/lukraine-de-louest-desormais-ouvertement-vassalisee-par-washington/|title=L'Ukraine de l'Ouest désormais " ouvertement " vassalisée par Washington|publisher=Front National|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706153814/http://www.frontnational.com/2014/12/lukraine-de-louest-desormais-ouvertement-vassalisee-par-washington/|archive-date=6 July 2015|url-status=dead}} She was strongly critical of NATO policy in the region, of Eastern European anti-Russian sentiment, and of threatened economic sanctions. In response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Le Pen criticized Russia's action despite her previous pro-Russia stance.{{cite news |last1=Bremner |first1=Charles |title=French election 2022: Presidential hopefuls forced into U-turns on Russia after Ukraine invasion |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk//article/french-presidential-hopefuls-forced-into-u-turns-on-russia-ldxp97t9z |work=The Times |date=25 February 2022 |language=en |access-date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226070218/https://www.thetimes.co.uk//article/french-presidential-hopefuls-forced-into-u-turns-on-russia-ldxp97t9z |url-status=dead }} She advocated welcoming Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.{{cite news |title=Europe Begins Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/europe-begins-welcoming-ukrainian-refugees/6461723.html |work=VOA News |date=27 February 2022 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326063732/https://www.voanews.com/a/europe-begins-welcoming-ukrainian-refugees/6461723.html |url-status=live }} She has stated that if elected she would remove France from NATO's integrated military command.{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Roger |date=13 April 2022 |title=Le Pen Backs NATO-Russia Reconciliation and Reduced French Role in Alliance |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/world/europe/le-pen-nato-russia-germany.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |issn=0362-4331}} In October 2023, she condemned Hamas' actions during the Gaza war and expressed her support to Israel and its right to self-defense.{{cite news |title=Once toxic, Marine Le Pen is closer to goal of being Macron's heir |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/once-toxic-marine-le-pen-is-closer-to-goal-of-being-macrons-heir-zh8xxn892 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 October 2023}}{{cite news |title=Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Chikli Says Le Pen as French President 'Excellent for Israel' |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-07-01/ty-article/.premium/diaspora-affairs-minister-chikli-says-le-pen-as-french-president-excellent-for-israel/00000190-6d11-d9ec-a19e-ef150a860000 |work=Haaretz |date=1 July 2024}} In May 2024, she officially met with an Israeli government minister for the first time.{{cite news |title=In snap election, many French Jews reluctantly endorse far right over dreaded far left |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-snap-election-many-french-jews-reluctantly-endorse-far-right-over-dreaded-far-left/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=29 June 2024}}

Regarding feminism, Le Pen often says she identifies as a feminist in the context of defending women's rights and improving women's lives, although she is critical of what she calls "neo-feminism", which she characterises as women going to war against men.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.elle.fr/Societe/News/Marine-Le-Pen-face-a-ELLE-Je-suis-contre-toutes-les-deconstructions-4007525|title=Marine Le Pen face à ELLE: « Je suis contre toutes les déconstructions »|magazine=ELLE France|date=9 March 2022|last1=Djamshidi|first1=Ava|last2=Etchegoin|first2=Marie-France|language=French|access-date=21 March 2022|archive-date=21 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321035309/https://www.elle.fr/Societe/News/Marine-Le-Pen-face-a-ELLE-Je-suis-contre-toutes-les-deconstructions-4007525|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/mlp_officiel/status/1370121268884869124|user=MLP_officiel|title=📹 « OUI je suis féministe, mais pas néo-féministe. Je n'exprime pas d'hostilité à l'égard des hommes. Nous devons construire une société du respect. Les hommes sont des partenaires, pas des ennemis. #FaceÀBFM »|number=1370121268884869124}}{{Cite news |date=2022-03-31 |title=Marine Le Pen : un programme fondamentalement d'extrême droite derrière une image adoucie |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2022/article/2022/03/31/presidentielle-2022-derriere-la-normalisation-de-marine-le-pen-un-projet-qui-reste-d-extreme-droite_6119942_6059010.html |access-date=2025-04-07 |language=fr}} However, her position has been criticised as a false commitment, based on her votes.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-09 |title=Marine Le Pen se convertit à la parité à la veille de l'élection présidentielle |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2022/article/2022/03/09/marine-le-pen-se-convertit-a-la-parite-a-la-veille-de-l-election-presidentielle_6116723_6059010.html |access-date=2025-04-07 |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=Présidentielle : Marine Le Pen et le féminisme, un engagement de façade |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/politique/presidentielle-marine-le-pen-et-le-feminisme-un-engagement-de-facade_2169345.html |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Turchi |first=Lénaïg Bredoux, Marine |date=2022-04-13 |title=Votes, programme, discours : les politiques anti-femmes de Marine Le Pen |url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/france/130422/votes-programme-discours-les-politiques-anti-femmes-de-marine-le-pen |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Mediapart |language=fr}}

{{Update section|date=August 2023}}

File:MARINELEPEN.jpg

Le Pen's appearances on television and radio have played an important role in her political career, and her political activities are regularly covered in the French media.{{cite web|url=http://www.marianne2.fr/Marine-Le-Pen_a195910.html |title=Marine Le Pen |work=Marianne |author=Philippe Cohen |date=31 July 2010 |access-date=19 November 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108110948/http://www.marianne2.fr/Marine-Le-Pen_a195910.html |archive-date= 8 November 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lenouveleconomiste.fr/ennemie-n-des-partis-politiques-francais-3407/|title=The arch-enemy of the French political parties|work=Le Nouvel Économiste|author=Michèle Cotta|date=24 August 2010|access-date=20 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=30 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430193842/http://www.lenouveleconomiste.fr/ennemie-n-des-partis-politiques-francais-3407/|url-status=live}}

During an appearance on the programme Mots croisés (Crossed Words) on France 2 on 5 October 2009,{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=1784|title=Marine Le Pen during the Mots croisés programme on France 2 (Theme: sex crimes – How to prevent subsequent offences ?)|publisher=Front National|date=8 October 2009|access-date=7 June 2011|language=fr|archive-date=17 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517133948/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=1784|url-status=dead}} Le Pen quoted sections of Frédéric Mitterrand's autobiographical novel The Bad Life, accusing him of having sex with underage boys and engaging in sex tourism, and demanding his resignation as Minister of Culture.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6270217/Frederic-Mitterrand-admitted-to-paying-for-sex-with-young-boys-in-Thailand.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6270217/Frederic-Mitterrand-admitted-to-paying-for-sex-with-young-boys-in-Thailand.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Frédéric Mitterrand admitted to paying for sex with 'young boys' in Thailand|work=The Daily Telegraph|author=Henry Samuel|date=7 October 2009|access-date=7 June 2011}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mitterrand-fights-for-his-job-after-rent-boy-admission-1799299.html|title=Mitterrand fights for his job after rent boy admission|work=The Independent|location=UK|author=John Lichfield|date=8 October 2009|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-date=10 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610150556/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mitterrand-fights-for-his-job-after-rent-boy-admission-1799299.html|url-status=live}} According to French political commentator Jérôme Fourquet, the Mitterrand case was Le Pen's media breakthrough.{{cite web|url=http://www.marianne2.fr/J-Fourquet-Marine-Le-Pen-a-perce-lors-de-l-affaire-Mitterrand_a191750.html |title=J. Fourquet: "Marine Le Pen has broken through the Mitterrand case" |work=Marianne |date=14 April 2010 |access-date=7 June 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721105545/http://www.marianne2.fr/J-Fourquet-Marine-Le-Pen-a-perce-lors-de-l-affaire-Mitterrand_a191750.html |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}

Le Pen appeared several times on À vous de juger (You Be The Judge), a political discussion show on France 2 hosted by journalist and commentator Arlette Chabot. In her first appearance, on 14 January 2010, Marine Le Pen appeared opposite Éric Besson, then-Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually Supportive Development.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=3513|title=À vous de juger: debate between Marine Le Pen and Éric Besson|publisher=Front National|date=15 January 2010|access-date=27 December 2010|language=fr|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927131011/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=3513|url-status=live}}

File:Marine Le Pen.jpg

In her first appearance as a main guest on À vous de juger, on 9 December 2010, she was questioned on economic, social and immigration issues by Chabot and political commentator Alain Duhamel; she then took part in debates, first with the socialist Mayor of Évry Manuel Valls and then Rachida Dati, Minister of Justice.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6150 |title=Marine Le Pen in À vous de juger: replies to Arlette Chabot (1st part), replies to Alain Duhamel (2nd part), talks with Manuel Valls (3rd part), debate with Rachida Dati (4th part) |publisher=Front National |date=10 December 2010 |access-date=20 September 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907010858/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6150 |archive-date=7 September 2011 }} The broadcast was viewed by 3,356,000 viewers (14.6% of the television audience),{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118286|title=Marine Le Pen boosts the audience of À vous de juger|work=Nations Presse Info (Médiamétrie)|date=10 December 2010|access-date=27 December 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218115106/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=118286|archive-date=18 February 2013}} the highest viewing figures for 2010 and the fourth highest since the series first aired in September 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/chroniqueurs-du-point/emmanuel-berretta/bon-score-pour-marine-le-pen-chez-arlette-chabot-10-12-2010-1273547_52.php|title=Marine Le Pen got a high score in À vous de juger|work=Le Point|language=fr|first=Emmanuel |last=Berretta|date=10 December 2010|access-date=27 December 2010|archive-date=13 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213234922/http://www.lepoint.fr/chroniqueurs-du-point/emmanuel-berretta/bon-score-pour-marine-le-pen-chez-arlette-chabot-10-12-2010-1273547_52.php|url-status=live}}

In December 2010, French journalist Guillaume Tabard described Le Pen as the "revelation of the year", and as "first an electoral phenomenon" and "a media phenomenon after".{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lesechos.fr/guillaume-tabard/le-pen-bis-repetitat-a4819.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710051408/http://blogs.lesechos.fr/guillaume-tabard/le-pen-bis-repetitat-a4819.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= 10 July 2012 |title=Le Pen, bis repetita |work=Les Echos |first=Guillaume|last=Tabard |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=31 December 2010 |language=fr }}

À vous de juger was replaced on France 2 by Des paroles et des actes (Words and Acts), hosted by journalist and anchorman David Pujadas. In her first appearance as a main guest on 23 June 2011, Le Pen appeared opposite Cécile Duflot, national secretary of The Greens.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=7091 |title=Marine Le Pen on France 2 |publisher=Front National |date=24 June 2011 |access-date=24 June 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627115241/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=7091 |archive-date=27 June 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/actualite/politique/marine-pen-relance-machine-112899.html|title=Marine Le Pen revives the machine|work=France-Soir|language=fr|date=24 June 2011|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-date=27 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627110326/http://www.francesoir.fr/actualite/politique/marine-pen-relance-machine-112899.html|url-status=live}} The broadcast was viewed by 3,582,000 viewers (15.1% of the television audience at the time).{{cite web|url=http://tele.premiere.fr/News-Tele/Audiences-TV-TF1-en-tete-avec-Interpol-bon-score-pour-le-premier-numero-de-Des-paroles-et-des-actes-2765118|title=Des paroles et des actes on France 2: viewers and televised audience (statistics)|work=Première|date=24 June 2011|access-date=24 June 2011|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627234920/http://tele.premiere.fr/News-Tele/Audiences-TV-TF1-en-tete-avec-Interpol-bon-score-pour-le-premier-numero-de-Des-paroles-et-des-actes-2765118|archive-date=27 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lejdd.fr/Medias/Television/Actualite/Marine-Le-Pen-toujours-championne-de-l-audimat-336005/?from=cover|title=Marine Le Pen still champion of the ratings|work=Le Journal du Dimanche|date=24 June 2011|access-date=24 June 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323224543/http://www.lejdd.fr/Medias/Television/Actualite/Marine-Le-Pen-toujours-championne-de-l-audimat-336005/?from=cover|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=dead}}

Le Pen has also appeared on Parole directe (Direct Speech) on TF1, hosted by Laurence Ferrari and political commentator François Bachy. Her first appearance as a sole guest on 15 September 2011 was viewed by an average of 6 million viewers (23.3% of the television audience) with a peak of 7.3 million in the second half of the programme.{{cite web|url=http://videos.tf1.fr/parole-directe/parole-directe-avec-marine-le-pen-l-emission-integrale-6705152.html |title="Direct speech" with Marine Le Pen |publisher=TF1 |date=15 September 2011 |access-date=16 September 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924032129/http://videos.tf1.fr/parole-directe/parole-directe-avec-marine-le-pen-l-emission-integrale-6705152.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ozap.com/actu/audiences-marine-le-pen-suivie-par-6-millions-de-telespectateurs-sur-tf1/436474|title=Audiences: Marine Le Pen suivie par 6 millions de téléspectateurs sur TF1|trans-title=TV audience: Marine Le Pen followed on TF1 by 6 million viewers|publisher=PureMédias|date=16 September 2011|access-date=16 September 2011|language=fr|archive-date=23 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923164920/http://www.ozap.com/actu/audiences-marine-le-pen-suivie-par-6-millions-de-telespectateurs-sur-tf1/436474|url-status=live}}

Le Pen has appeared in the news media of other European countries,{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772875,00.html|title=Madame Rage: Marine Le Pen's Populism for the Masses (Part 1: Marine Le Pen's Populism for the Masses, Part 2: The Divide Between the Governing and the Governed, Part 3: 'As a Woman, You Have a Close Relationship with Reality'|work=Der Spiegel|author=Mathieu von Rohr|date=7 July 2011|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-date=30 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730065634/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772875,00.html|url-status=live}} Russia,{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1793754|title=France will pull out of NATO – Marine Le Pen speaks to Kommersant about her programme|work=Kommersant|date=13 October 2011|access-date=18 October 2011|language=ru|archive-date=15 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015133215/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1793754|url-status=live}} the Middle East,{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/the-daughter-as-de-demonizer-1.335743|title=The daughter as de-demonizer|work=Haaretz|author=Adar Primor|date=7 January 2011|access-date=7 January 2011|archive-date=11 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111064837/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/the-daughter-as-de-demonizer-1.335743|url-status=live}} and the United States.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040141,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102154848/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040141,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2011|title=Marine Le Pen: Her Father's Daughter|magazine=Time|author=Bruce Crumley|date=3 February 2011|access-date=12 February 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-france-le-pen-20110117,0,1943134.story|title=A new Le Pen will lead the French far right|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Devorah Lauter|date=17 January 2011|access-date=30 January 2011|archive-date=19 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119163042/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-france-le-pen-20110117,0,1943134.story|url-status=live}} She appeared on Quebec web-radio station Rockik in December 2008,{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=18934|title=Marine Le Pen on the Québec webradio Rockik|work=Nations Presse Info (Rockik)|date=8 December 2008|access-date=27 December 2010|language=fr}}{{dead link|date=March 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Radio Canada in May 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=101890|title=Marine Le Pen on Radio Canada|work=Nations Presse Info (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)|date=21 May 2010|access-date=27 December 2010|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904190639/http://www.nationspresse.info/?p=101890|archive-date=4 September 2012}} and the Israeli radio station 90FM in March 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6731 |title=Marine Le Pen on the Israeli radio 90FM |publisher=Front National |date=31 March 2011 |access-date=31 March 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824183115/http://www.frontnational.com/?p=6731 |archive-date=24 August 2011}} In March 2011, she appeared on the front cover of The Weekly Standard magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/tws/Search/SearchIssues.asp?from_year=2011&from_month=03&to_year=2011&to_month=03&x=36&y=9|title=Cover Gallery|work=The Weekly Standard|date=March 2011|access-date=8 March 2011|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628182814/http://www.weeklystandard.com/tws/Search/SearchIssues.asp?from_year=2011&from_month=03&to_year=2011&to_month=03&x=36&y=9|url-status=dead}} She spoke to international journalists at a press conference on 13 January 2012, organised by the European American Press Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/videos/marine-le-pen-invitee-par-leuropean-american-press-club/|title=Marine Le Pen invited by the European American Press Club|work=Front National|date=19 January 2012|access-date=6 February 2011|language=fr|archive-date=22 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122060637/http://www.frontnational.com/videos/marine-le-pen-invitee-par-leuropean-american-press-club/|url-status=live}}

On 21 April 2011, she was featured in the 2011 Time 100 with a commentary from Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and vice chairman of the State Duma.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066134,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424131103/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066134,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2011|title=Marine Le Pen (The 2011 TIME 100)|magazine=Time|author=Vladimir Zhirinovsky|date=21 April 2011|access-date=22 April 2011}}

In October 2011, she launched her book "Pour que vive la France" in Verona, Italy, and met Assunta Almirante, the widow of Giorgio Almirante, leader of the far-right Italian Social Movement (MSI).{{cite news |url=http://droites-extremes.blog.lemonde.fr/2011/10/22/marine-le-pen-en-italie-lombre-portee-du-msi/ |title=Marine Le Pen en Italie: l'ombre portée du MSI | Droite(s) extrême(s) |newspaper=Le Monde |date=22 October 2011 |publisher=Droites-extremes.blog.lemonde.fr |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107024304/http://droites-extremes.blog.lemonde.fr/2011/10/22/marine-le-pen-en-italie-lombre-portee-du-msi/ |url-status=live }}

In February 2013, she spoke at the Cambridge Union Society, the debating society of the University of Cambridge. Her appearance sparked controversy, with anti-fascist group Unite Against Fascism opposing her invitation on a No Platform basis and organising a demonstration outside the venue, attended by around 200 people.{{cite news |title=Marine Le Pen sparks Cambridge protests |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/student-life/9881110/Marine-Le-Pen-sparks-Cambridge-protests.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/student-life/9881110/Marine-Le-Pen-sparks-Cambridge-protests.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=19 February 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |last=Pilgrim |first=Sophie |date=19 February 2013 |title=Marine Le Pen sparks protest on Cambridge visit |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20130219-marine-le-pen-protest-cambridge-union-french/ |work=France 24 |location=Paris |publisher=France Médias Monde |access-date=1 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305163217/http://www.france24.com/en/20130219-marine-le-pen-protest-cambridge-union-french/ |archive-date=5 March 2014 |url-status=dead}} The protests were supported by numerous Cambridge societies, including Cambridge University Students' Union and Cambridge University Labour Club; other groups, such as the Cambridge Libertarians, supported her invitation.{{cite press release|last=Root |first=James |date=17 February 2013 |title=No Platform for Marine Le Pen – A Response by Cambridge Libertarians |url=http://www.cambridgelibertarians.org.uk/blog/2013/no-platform-for-marine-le-pen-a-response/ |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge Libertarians |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118144449/http://www.cambridgelibertarians.org.uk/blog/2013/no-platform-for-marine-le-pen-a-response/ |archive-date=18 January 2014}}

In October 2023, Le Pen was convicted of committing defamation against French NGO Cimade when she accused the organization in a January 2022 television interview of being "accomplices to smugglers" and being involved in an "illegal immigration network from the Comoros" in Mayotte.{{cite news |date=13 October 2023 |title=Marine Le Pen found guilty of defamation after accusing French NGO of smuggling migrants in Mayotte |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/13/marine-le-pen-found-guilty-of-defamation-after-accusing-french-ngo-of-smuggling-migrants-i |accessdate=10 December 2023 |publisher=Euronews}} She was ordered to pay €500 and to also sustain court costs.

{{main article|National Front assistants affair}}

In December 2023, Le Pen was ordered to stand trial after she was charged with paying National Front party officials through funds earmarked for European Parliament assistants.{{cite news |last=Kostov |first=Nick |date=8 December 2023 |title=France's Marine Le Pen to Face Trial Over Spending |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/frances-marine-le-pen-to-face-trial-over-spending-e41ced4e |accessdate=10 December 2023 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}} Twenty-seven others, including her father Jean Marie, served as her co-defendants.{{cite news |date=8 December 2023 |title=French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to stand trial over alleged misuse of EU funds |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-far-right-leader-marine-le-pen-stand-trial-over-alleged-misuse-eu-funds-2023-12-08/ |accessdate=10 December 2023 |publisher=Reuters}} Her trial, for misappropriation of public funds, was scheduled in March 2024 to occur between 30 September and 27 November the same year.{{cite news |date=27 March 2024 |title=Marine le Pen sera jugée à partir du 30 septembre pour des soupçons de détournement de fonds européens |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/03/27/marine-le-pen-sera-jugee-a-partir-du-30-septembre-pour-des-soupcons-de-detournement-de-fonds-europeens_6224493_823448.html |newspaper=Le Monde.fr}}{{Cite news |last=Abboud |first=Leila |date=30 September 2024 |title=Marine Le Pen on trial over EU expenses scandal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/19f89c4b-21bf-46a5-81e8-844259918e61 |access-date=17 March 2025 |work=Financial Times}}

On 31 March 2025, eight MEPs, 12 assistants from the National Rally, and Le Pen were found guilty of embezzling European Union funds by a Paris court. Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence, two years of which were suspended, in addition to a €100,000 fine. She did not begin serving the two years' house arrest immediately as all appeals must be exhausted before this part of the sentence is executed. Similarly, she did not lose her seat in the lower house of the French parliament immediately.{{cite news |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/justice/4146265-20250331-condamnation-marine-pen-bracelet-electronique-delais-mandat-deputee-va-passer-maintenant |title=Condamnation de Marine Le Pen : Bracelet électronique, délais, mandat de députée… Que va-t-il se passer maintenant ? |newspaper=20 minutes |lang=fr |date=31 March 2025}} On the other hand, the court also banned her, effective immediately, from standing for political office for five years, making her ineligible to run in the 2027 French presidential election.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/justice/20250331.OBS102167/condamnation-de-marine-le-pen-ineligibilite-bracelet-electronique-quelles-consequences-apres-l-appel.html |title=Condamnation de Marine Le Pen : inéligibilité, bracelet électronique… Quelles conséquences après l'appel ? |lang=fr |date=31 March 2025 |magazine=Le Nouvel Obs}}

{{Update section|date=August 2023}}

In the 2004 European Parliament election, Le Pen led the FN list in the Île-de-France constituency. The list polled 8.58% (234,893 votes), winning one of fourteen available seats.{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/eur2004/007/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121130351/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/eur2004/007/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 November 2006 |title=2004 European election results: Île-de-France |publisher=Minister of the Interior |access-date=28 October 2010 |language=fr }}

In the 2009 European parliament election, Le Pen led the FN list in the North-West France constituency. The party polled 10.18% (253,009 votes),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/01.html|title=2009 European election results: North-West France|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 October 2010|language=fr|archive-date=31 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831043859/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/01.html|url-status=live}} the highest FN vote share of French constituencies, and won one of the ten seats.{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/elections/resultats/accueil-resultats/downloadFile/attachedFile_3/RPE-24-09-09.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064817/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/elections/resultats/accueil-resultats/downloadFile/attachedFile_3/RPE-24-09-09.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2011|title=France: list of the 72 MEPs by constituency (2009–2014)|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=19 November 2010|language=fr}} The FN's constituency list received its highest regional result in Picardy (12.57%, 63,624 votes),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/022/022.html|title=2009 European election results: Picardy|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=19 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=31 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731144812/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/022/022.html|url-status=live}} its highest departmental result in Aisne (13.40%, 19,125 votes),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/022/002/002.html|title=2009 European election results: Aisne|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=19 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413231858/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Europeennes/elecresult__europeennes_2009/(path)/europeennes_2009//01/022/002/002.html|url-status=live}} and its highest municipal results in Pas-de-Calais: Hénin-Beaumont (27.92%, 1,799 votes),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/031/062/062427.html|title=2009 European election results: Hénin-Beaumont|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=19 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413231835/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Europeennes/elecresult__europeennes_2009/(path)/europeennes_2009//01/031/062/062427.html|url-status=live}} Courcelles-lès-Lens (26.57%),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/031/062/062249.html|title=2009 European election results: Courcelles-lès-Lens|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=19 November 2010|language=fr}} Noyelles-Godault (24.72%).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/ER2009/01/031/062/062624.html|title=2009 European election results: Noyelles-Godault|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=19 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413231913/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Europeennes/elecresult__europeennes_2009/(path)/europeennes_2009//01/031/062/062624.html|url-status=live}}

Le Pen first stood for parliament in the 1993 legislative election, in Paris' 16th constituency (17th arrondissement of Paris). She finished third with 11.10% (3,963 votes), and Bernard Pons (UDR) was re-elected as the MP with 63.14% (22,545 votes) in the first round.{{cite web|url=http://elections.figaro.net/cgi/histo_req1?page=15%26offs=15%26action=L1993%26re=%26dep=75%26Valider=Lancez+la+recherche%26version=figaro |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20081219010058/http://elections.figaro.net/cgi/histo_req1?page=15%26offs=15%26action=L1993%26re=%26dep=75%26Valider=Lancez+la+recherche%26version=figaro |archive-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=dead |title=1993 French legislative election results: Paris' 16th constituency|work=Le Figaro |language=fr|access-date=5 November 2010}}

She stood in the 2002 election in Pas-de-Calais' 13th constituency, Lens, an economically deprived socialist stronghold. Le Pen polled 24.24% (10,228 votes) in the first round, qualifying for the run-off against socialist Jean-Claude Bois, in which Le Pen received 32.30% (12,266 votes); Bois was re-elected as the MP with 67.70% (27,510 votes).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2002/062/circons13.html|title=2002 French legislative election results: Pas-de-Calais' 13th constituency|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=5 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929174932/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2002/062/circons13.html|url-status=live}}

File:Marine le pen-2.jpg, 25 February 2007]]

In the 2007 election, Le Pen and her substitute Steeve Briois{{clarify|date=May 2017}} stood for the FN in the Pas-de-Calais' 14th constituency, Hénin-Beaumont, a former coal mining area with high unemployment. Le Pen expressed the view that due to unemployment, offshoring and insecurity, the constituency symbolised the major problems of France.{{cite news|url=http://www.boursier.com/vals/all/marine-le-pen-repart-en-conquete-dans-le-pas-de-calais-feed-25326.htm|title=Marine Le Pen: Pas-de-Calais in her sights|agency=Reuters|publisher=boursier.com|date=6 June 2007|access-date=6 November 2010|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226135542/http://www.boursier.com/vals/all/marine-le-pen-repart-en-conquete-dans-le-pas-de-calais-feed-25326.htm|archive-date=26 December 2007|url-status=dead}} Le Pen's campaign committee was led by Daniel Janssens, who had previously served for 24 years as the socialist deputy mayor of Leforest.

Le Pen finished second of fourteen candidates in the first round with 24.47% (10,593 votes), behind incumbent Socialist MP Albert Facon with 28.24% (12,221 votes).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2007/062/circons14.html|title=2007 French legislative election results: Pas-de-Calais' 14th constituency|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=6 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=12 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312101643/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2007/062/circons14.html|url-status=live}} Le Pen was the only FN candidate in France to qualify for the run-off.{{cite web|url=http://www.cevipof.com/bpf/analyses/Fourquet_HeninBeaumont.pdf|title=Hénin-Beaumont, Marine Le Pen's Vitrolles ?|publisher=CEVIPOF|access-date=6 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708133322/http://www.cevipof.com/bpf/analyses/Fourquet_HeninBeaumont.pdf|url-status=live}} After the first round, Le Pen was endorsed by Gaullist politicians Alain Griotteray and Michel Caldaguès and the souverainiste MEP Paul-Marie Coûteaux.{{cite web|url=http://yvesdaoudal.hautetfort.com/archive/2007/06/13/deux-gaullistes-historiques-soutiennent-marine.html|title=Marine Le Pen: support from two Gaullist stalwarts|publisher=Yves Daoudal's website|date=13 June 2007|access-date=6 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505191748/http://yvesdaoudal.hautetfort.com/archive/2007/06/13/deux-gaullistes-historiques-soutiennent-marine.html|url-status=live}}

In the run-off, Le Pen received 41.65% (17,107 votes), and Facon was re-elected as the MP with 58.35% (23,965 votes). Her strongest results came in Courcelles-lès-Lens (48.71%),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2007/062/06224914.html|title=2007 French legislative election results: Courcelles-lès-Lens|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=7 November 2010|language=fr}} Noyelles-Godault (47.85%),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2007/062/06262414.html|title=2007 French legislative election results: Noyelles-Godault|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=7 November 2010|language=fr}} and Hénin-Beaumont (44.54%, 4,729 votes).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2007/062/06242714.html|title=2007 French legislative election results: Hénin-Beaumont|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=7 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=10 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710051429/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2007/062/06242714.html|url-status=live}} According to political analysts, Le Pen's strong showing in the constituency was a result of economic and social issues like de-industrializaation, unemployment and a feeling of abandonment, rather than immigration or security.

In the 2012 election, Le Pen, now leader of the FN, stood in Pas-de-Calais' 11th constituency, which now contained Henin-Beaumont following redistricting, where she had got her best results in the presidential election.{{cite web |url=http://www.politiquemania.com/election-presidentielle-2012-tour1-circonscriptions.html |title=Election présidentielle 2012 – Résultats du 1er tour par circonscription |publisher=Politiquemania |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075954/http://www.politiquemania.com/election-presidentielle-2012-tour1-circonscriptions.html |url-status=live }} Her opponents were Philippe Kemel and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.{{cite web|url=http://www.nordeclair.fr/Actualite/2012/05/11/le-ps-coince-entre-deux-fronts.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213153418/http://www.nordeclair.fr/Actualite/2012/05/11/le-ps-coince-entre-deux-fronts.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2013 |title=Le PS coincĂŠ entre deux Fronts ? – RĂŠgion – Nord Eclair |publisher=Nordeclair.fr |access-date=14 November 2015 }} She finished first in the first round on 10 June 2012, with 42.36% (22,280 votes),{{cite web |url=http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/LG2012/062/06211.html |title=Résultats des élections législatives 2012 / Législatives / Les résultats / Elections – Ministère de l'Intérieur |language=fr |publisher=Elections.interieur.gouv.fr |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615161523/http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/LG2012/062/06211.html |url-status=live }} and was defeated in the second round by Philippe Kemel.

In 2014, the Criminal Court of Bethune found Marine Le Pen guilty of electoral fraud, for producing and distributing flyers during the 2012 election purporting to be from electoral opponent Jean-Luc Mélenchon, calling for 'Arab' votes. She was ordered to pay a {{euro|link=no}}10,000 fine.{{cite news |agency=Reuters Editorial |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-lepen-idUSBREA321BV20140403 |title=France's Le Pen fined 10,000 euros over 'Arab' vote flyer |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107024306/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-lepen-idUSBREA321BV20140403 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/faux-tract-de-jean-luc-melenchon-10-000-euros-d-amende-pour-marine-le-pen_1505798.html |title=Faux tract de Jean-Luc Mélenchon: 10 000 euros d'amende pour Marine Le Pen – L'Express |work=L'Express |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030735/http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/faux-tract-de-jean-luc-melenchon-10-000-euros-d-amende-pour-marine-le-pen_1505798.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://nord-pas-de-calais.france3.fr/2014/04/03/faux-tract-de-melenchon-le-pen-condamnee-10000-euros-d-amende-452285.html |title=Faux tract de Mélenchon: Le Pen condamnée à 10000 euros d'amende – France 3 Nord Pas-de-Calais |language=fr |publisher=Nord-pas-de-calais.france3.fr |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=16 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182436/http://nord-pas-de-calais.france3.fr/2014/04/03/faux-tract-de-melenchon-le-pen-condamnee-10000-euros-d-amende-452285.html |url-status=live }}

In the 2017 French legislative election, Le Pen once again stood in Pas-de-Calais' 11th constituency. She finished first in the first round on 11 June 2017, with 46.02% (19,997 votes), and won the seat in the second round with 58.60% (22,769 votes) over Anne Roquet of La République En Marche!.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In the 2022 French legislative election, Le Pen stood for re-election in Pas-de-Calais' 11th constituency. She finished first in the first round on 12 June 2022, with 53.96% (21,219 votes), and won the seat again in the second round with 61.03% (22,301 votes) over Marine Tondelier of Europe Ecology – The Greens.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Le Pen once again stood for re-election in Pas-de-Calais' 11th constituency in the 2024 French legislative election.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

{{Main|French regional elections, 1998}}

In the 1998 elections, she was included in the FN list in Nord-Pas-de-Calais and was a regional councillor for six years (1998–2004).

{{Main|French regional elections, 2004}}

In the 2004 elections, she led the FN regional list in Île-de-France and the departmental list in Hauts-de-Seine.

Her list polled 12.26% (448,983 votes) in the first round and achieved 10.11% (395,565 votes) with fifteen councillors elected in the run-off.{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/reg2004/011/011.html|title=2004 French regional elections results: Île-de-France|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 October 2010|language=fr|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413231912/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales_2004/(path)/regionales_2004//011/011.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/reg2004/011/E2011L002.html|title=Île-de-France: list of the 15 FN regional councillors (2004–2010)|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=28 October 2010|language=fr|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413231923/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales_2004/(path)/regionales_2004//011/E2011L002.html|url-status=live}}

Le Pen led the regional group for five years, stepping down in February 2009 to concentrate on the European election campaign in the North-West France constituency.{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-politique/2009-02-10/marine-le-pen-a-quitte-la-presidence-du-groupe-fn-a-la-region-idf/917/0/315903|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209041211/http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-politique/2009-02-10/marine-le-pen-a-quitte-la-presidence-du-groupe-fn-a-la-region-idf/917/0/315903|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2011|title=Île-de-France: Marine Le Pen has left the presidency of the FN group|work=Le Point|language=fr|date=10 February 2009|access-date=28 October 2010}} A member of the standing committee, she led opposition to the left-wing regional executive managed by Jean-Paul Huchon.

{{Main|French regional elections, 2010}}

In the 2010 elections, Marine Le Pen led the FN regional list in Nord-Pas-de-Calais and the departmental list in Pas-de-Calais.{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/C2031L005.html|title=Nord-Pas-de-Calais: list of the FN candidates in 2010|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=26 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626072445/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/C2031L005.html|url-status=live}}

In the first round, her list polled 18.31% (224.871 votes) and finished in third position in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/031.html|title=2010 French regional elections results: Nord-Pas-de-Calais|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064756/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/031.html|url-status=live}} In Pas-de-Calais, her list polled 19.81% (96,556 votes), ahead of the UMP (15.91%, 77,550 votes),{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/062/062.html|title=2010 French regional elections results: Pas-de-Calais|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064555/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/062/062.html|url-status=live}} and won by a large margin in Hénin-Beaumont (39.08%, 2,949 votes).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/062/062427.html|title=2010 French regional elections results: Hénin-Beaumont|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214082237/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/062/062427.html|url-status=live}} Le Pen's list achieved the second-highest result of FN regional lists in the country, behind her father Jean-Marie Le Pen's list in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, which received 20.30% (296,283 votes).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/093/093.html|title=2010 French regional elections results: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064639/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/093/093.html|url-status=live}} In Pas-de-Calais, she received a higher share of the vote than Jean-Marie Le Pen had received in the first round of the 2002 presidential election (18.41%, 135,330 votes).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2002/031/062/3162.html |title=2002 French presidential election results: Pas-de-Calais |publisher=Minister of the Interior |access-date=14 November 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026005906/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2002/031/062/3162.html |archive-date=26 October 2010}}

In the run-off, her list polled 22.20% (301,190 votes) in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, finishing in third position. Eighteen FN councillors were elected among the 113 of Nord-Pas-de-Calais' regional council.{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/E2031L005.html|title=Nord-Pas-de-Calais: list of the 18 FN regional councillors (2010–2014)|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214140033/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/E2031L005.html|url-status=live}} Le Pen's list had the second highest vote share of FN regional lists in France, behind Jean-Marie Le Pen's list which received 22.87% (387,374 votes) with 21 councillors elected. In Pas-de-Calais, her list polled 24.37% (130,720 votes), finishing ahead of the UMP (22.63%, 121,365 votes), and achieved its highest municipal results in Hénin-Beaumont (44.23%, 3,829 votes) and Courcelles-lès-Lens (40.60%).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/062/062249.html|title=2010 French regional elections results: Courcelles-lès-Lens|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=14 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=14 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214140022/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/031/062/062249.html|url-status=live}} Her list achieved the second-highest departmental FN result in the country behind Vaucluse (26.54%).{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/093/084/084.html|title=2010 French regional elections results: Vaucluse|publisher=Minister of the Interior|access-date=20 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615065013/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/RG2010/093/084/084.html|url-status=live}} Her regional vote share and the vote share in Pas-de-Calais were higher than those of Jean-Marie Le Pen in the run-off of the 2002 presidential election (21.89%, 445,357 votes;{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2002/031/031.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207112240/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2002/031/031.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= 7 December 2009 |title=2002 French presidential election results: Nord-Pas-de-Calais |publisher=Minister of the Interior |access-date=14 November 2010 |language=fr }} 22.17%, 170,967 votes).

Le Pen's success in these elections reinforced her internal position within the FN. As a member of the standing committee and a president of the regional group (Front National/Gathering for the Nord-Pas-de-Calais), she led opposition to the left-wing regional executive managed by Daniel Percheron.

File:Marine Le Pen and Steeve Briois - Henin-Beaumont-2.jpg holding a press conference at Hénin-Beaumont, Pas-de-Calais, for the launch of the 2008 municipal election]]

{{Main|French municipal elections, 2008}}

Since 2001, Gérard Dalongeville has been the Mayor of Hénin-Beaumont, an economically deprived town in a former coal mining area.

A municipal councillor since 1995,{{cite web|url=http://briois.ublog.com/about.html|title=Biography of Steeve Briois|publisher=Steeve Briois' website|access-date=15 November 2010|language=fr|archive-date=6 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106155512/http://briois.ublog.com/about.html|url-status=live}} Steeve Briois led the FN list with Marine Le Pen in second position. The FN list came second with 28.53% (3,650 votes) in the first round and achieved 28.83% (3,630 votes) with five councillors elected in the run-off.{{cite web|url=http://elections.lefigaro.fr/resultats/elections-municipales-2008/2eme-tour/pas-de-calais/62110/henin-beaumont/|title=2008 municipal election results in Hénin-Beaumont: first round and run-off|work=Le Figaro|language=fr|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=12 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112230743/http://elections.lefigaro.fr/resultats/elections-municipales-2008/2eme-tour/pas-de-calais/62110/henin-beaumont/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://elections.lefigaro.fr/resultats/elections-municipales-2008/2eme-tour/pas-de-calais/62110/henin-beaumont/liste-1.php|title=Hénin-Beaumont: list of the 5 FN municipal councillors|work=Le Figaro|language=fr|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004839/http://elections.lefigaro.fr/resultats/elections-municipales-2008/2eme-tour/pas-de-calais/62110/henin-beaumont/liste-1.php|url-status=live}}

Following the election, Briois and Le Pen sat in opposition against the re-elected mayor Gérard Dalongeville and his first vice-mayor Marie-Noëlle Lienemann.

{{Main|2009 municipal by-election in Hénin-Beaumont}}A municipal by-election was held in Hénin-Beaumont on 28 June and 5 July 2009. As in 2008, Steeve Briois was the FN top candidate with Le Pen in second position.

The FN list led by a large margin after the first round, with 39.33% (4,485 votes), and received 47.62% (5,504 votes) in the run-off, with eight councillors elected,{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/elections/resultats/elections-municipales/2009/henin-beaumont-pas-calais/downloadFile/file/62_Mun_Par_28_juin_5_juillet_09_Henin_Beaumont_T1T2.pdf?nocache=1249634749.32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064219/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/elections/resultats/elections-municipales/2009/henin-beaumont-pas-calais/downloadFile/file/62_Mun_Par_28_juin_5_juillet_09_Henin_Beaumont_T1T2.pdf?nocache=1249634749.32 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2011 |title=2009 Hénin-Beaumont municipal by-election results: first round and run-off |publisher=Minister of the Interior |date=7 August 2009 |access-date=4 September 2010 |language=fr }} though the FN again failed to win the municipality.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0DF153FF935A35754C0A96F9C8B63|title=Left Wins French Local Election With Backing of Center-Right|work=The New York Times|first=Steven|last=Erlanger|date=6 July 2009|access-date=18 November 2010|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605002627/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0DF153FF935A35754C0A96F9C8B63|url-status=live}}

Briois, Le Pen and the six other FN councillors formed the opposition against the new mayor Daniel Duquenne and his successor Eugène Binaisse.

On 24 February 2011, Le Pen resigned as a municipal councillor because of the law on the accumulation of mandates ("cumul des mandats").{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-politique/cumul-des-mandats-marine-le-pen-quitte-le-conseil-municipal-d-henin-beaumont-24-02-2011-1330084.php|title=Accumulation of mandates: Marine Le Pen leaves the municipal council of Hénin-Beaumont|work=Le Parisien (AFP)|date=24 February 2011|access-date=26 February 2011|language=fr|archive-date=26 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226101949/http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-politique/cumul-des-mandats-marine-le-pen-quitte-le-conseil-municipal-d-henin-beaumont-24-02-2011-1330084.php|url-status=live}} In a letter entitled "I stay in Hénin-Beaumont!", she expressed the view that her political activities would be more effective for the city at regional and European levels than in the municipal council.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationspresse.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Lettre-de-Marine-Le-Pen-aux-habitants-dH%C3%A9nin-Beaumont.pdf|title=I stay in Hénin-Beaumont !|work=Nations Presse Info|date=24 February 2011|access-date=26 February 2011|language=fr}}{{dead link|date=March 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• Regional councillor of Nord-Pas-de-Calais: (15 March 1998 – 28 March 2004); since 26 March 2010: member of the standing committee, leader of the FN group.
• Regional councillor of Île-de-France (28 March 2004 – 21 March 2010): member of the standing committee, leader of the FN group until February 2009.
• Municipal councillor of Hénin-Beaumont (23 March 2008 – 24 February 2011).

Member of the European Parliament in the Île-de-France constituency (20 July 2004 – 13 July 2009): Non-Inscrits (20 July 2004 – 14 January 2007/14 November 2007 – 13 July 2009); Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty (15 January 2007 – 13 November 2007).

• Member: Committee on Culture and Education (21 July 2004 – 14 January 2007/15 January 2007 – 30 January 2007), Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (31 January 2007 – 13 July 2009), Delegation for relations with Israel (15 September 2004 – 13 March 2007/14 March 2007 – 13 July 2009)
• Substitute: Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (21 July 2004 – 14 January 2007/31 January 2007 – 13 July 2009), Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand (15 March 2007 – 13 July 2009){{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/archive/alphaOrder/view.do?language=EN&id=28210|title=Marine Le Pen MEP_Archives|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=30 October 2010}}

Member of the European Parliament in the North-West France constituency: Non-Inscrits (14 July 2009 – 16 June 2015); ENF

• Member: Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (since 16 July 2009), Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (since 16 September 2009)
• Substitute: Committee on International Trade (since 16 July 2009), Delegation for relations with Canada (16 September 2009 – 14 November 2010){{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/view.do?country=FR&partNumber=1&zone=Nord-Ouest&language=EN&id=28210|title=Marine Le Pen MEP|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=30 October 2010}}

In 1995, Le Pen married Franck Chauffroy, a business executive who worked for the National Front. She has three children with Chauffroy (Jehanne, Louis, and Mathilde). After her divorce from Chauffroy in 2000, she married Eric Lorio in 2002, the former national secretary of the National Front and a former adviser to the Regional election in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The couple divorced in 2006.

From 2009 until 2019, she was in a relationship with Louis Aliot, who is of ethnic French Pied-Noir and Algerian Jewish heritage.{{cite magazine|first=Saïd|last=Mahrane|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-fait-la-cour-aux-juifs-03-12-2011-1403435_20.php |title=Marine Le Pen fait la cour aux juifs|magazine=Le Point|date=3 December 2011|access-date=3 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209085834/http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-fait-la-cour-aux-juifs-03-12-2011-1403435_20.php |archive-date=9 December 2011|language=fr }} He was the National Front general secretary from 2005 to 2010, then the National Front vice president.{{cite news|first=Maureen|last=Dowd|author-link=Maureen Dowd|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/opinion/sunday/dowd-leading-sarkozy-to-the-guillotine.html|title=Leading Sarkozy to the Guillotine|date=6 May 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 February 2017|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731185236/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/opinion/sunday/dowd-leading-sarkozy-to-the-guillotine.html|url-status=live}} She has lived in La Celle-Saint-Cloud with her three children since September 2014. She has an apartment in Hénin-Beaumont and owns a house with Aliot in Millas.{{cite web |url=http://millas.blogs.lindependant.com/archive/2010/09/13/marine-le-pen-achete-a-millas-cela-releve-de-ma-vie-privee.html |title=Marine Le Pen achète à Millas : "Cela relève de ma vie privée": Millas |publisher=Millas.blogs.lindependant.com |date=13 September 2010 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020349/http://millas.blogs.lindependant.com/archive/2010/09/13/marine-le-pen-achete-a-millas-cela-releve-de-ma-vie-privee.html |archive-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}

Le Pen has described herself as a non-practising Catholic.{{Cite book |last1=Fourest |first1=Caroline |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9a1-tgAACAAJ |title=Marine Le Pen démasquée |last2=Venner |first2=Fiammetta |date=2012 |publisher=Éditions Grasset |isbn=978-2-253-15635-2 |pages=297–299 |language=fr}} Her children were baptised by a priest of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) in the Church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet.{{Cite book |last=Malet |first=Jean-Baptiste |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEt3tgAACAAJ |title=Derrière les lignes du front: reportages et immersions en terre d'extrême droite |date=2011 |publisher=Golias |isbn=978-2-35472-137-4 |language=fr}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150816145233/http://www.marinelepen.fr/wp-content/pdf/contre-flots.pdf À contre flots], Jacques Grancher, 2006 {{ISBN|2-7339-0957-6}} (autobiography) {{in lang|fr}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150531065323/http://www.marinelepen.fr/wp-content/pdf/pour-que-vive-la-france.pdf Pour que vive la France], Jacques Grancher, 2012, 260 pages {{in lang|fr}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

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{{Commons category|Marine Le Pen}}

• {{Official website|https://mlafrance.fr/}}
• [https://fanclub.marine-lepen.org Fan Club of Marine Le Pen in France] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712000710/https://fanclub.marine-lepen.org/ |date=12 July 2022 }})
• [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28210/Marine_LE%20PEN.html Profile on the European Parliament's official website]
• {{Cite news |first=Tony |last=Cross |date=4 May 2012 |orig-date=3 May 2012 |title=Has Marine Le Pen Made France's Front National Respectable? |url=http://en.rfi.fr/economy/20120503-has-marine-le-pen-made-frances-front-national-respectable |publisher=RFI English |access-date=29 April 2017}}
• {{C-SPAN|103096}}

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