Marine Le Pen has promised a "rebirth" of France

Marine Le Pen officially launched her presidential campaign on Sunday in Orléans, promising a national "renaissance" and the restoration of order in France. The far-right leader addressed thousands of supporters in a city chosen for its historical ties to Joan of Arc, positioning herself as the primary candidate to resolve what she described as deepening economic, social, and security crises. Polls released on the day of the rally placed Le Pen in the lead with support ranging from 32 percent to 33.5 percent, significantly ahead of her closest rival, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who polled at 17 percent. The campaign kickoff occurred against a backdrop of ongoing civil unrest, with organizers reporting that 8,500 attendees filled a venue secured by heavy police presence. The event followed a tense weekend marked by mass demonstrations across France. On Saturday, approximately 5,000 members and officials of the National Rally party gathered in Orléans for a congress. Simultaneously, counter-protests were organized by dozens of unions, associations, and political groups. Local authorities counted 11,000 demonstrators in Orléans, while organizers claimed the number reached 26,000. Security forces deployed roughly 3,000 police officers, including armored vehicles, water cannons, helicopters, and drones, to manage the situation. The atmosphere in the city was described as resembling a siege, with tourist offices, libraries, parks, and gardens closed, and restaurant terraces banned from operating. Tram traffic was suspended, and vehicle access to the historic center was restricted. Shop owners installed protective barriers overnight, and Mayor Serge Grouard announced a curfew for minors under 15 for the subsequent two nights. Le Pen selected Orléans because it is the hometown of Joan of Arc, the 15th-century military heroine whom nationalists view as a symbol of patriotism and sovereignty. In her speech, Le Pen invoked this history, stating that the national heroine began her great battle for France in that location. The former leader emphasized that France is currently experiencing a total sclerosis of institutions and politicians who refuse to take responsibility. She argued that the country requires a new Republic capable of deciding, acting, and succeeding. To achieve this, she stated that the Constitution must regain its full value and strength, being re-established as the fundamental law of the French people. The campaign launch came amid a wave of social agitation that has persisted since mid-September. These protests, initially sparked by high school students in a Paris suburb, evolved into a nationwide mobilization driven by dissatisfaction with high living costs and inequality. While many demonstrations remained peaceful, they were accompanied by significant violence. On October 17, shops were looted and ransacked, resulting in more than 2,000 arrests as hundreds of thousands marched through French cities. Similar, albeit smaller, incidents occurred the following weekend. Le Pen suggested that these recent scenes of arson and looting validated the positions of her party, which has attributed the violence to immigration and the political left. She declared that everyone in France now agreed with her stance. During her address, Le Pen outlined specific policy pledges aimed at restoring authority. She promised zero-tolerance policing and stated that restoring security was the state's first duty. Her platform included strict measures on immigration, such as restoring border controls, cracking down on gangs and drug traffickers, and implementing the automatic and definitive expulsion of foreign nationals convicted of crimes. She also proposed granting French citizens "national priority" for services like public housing, ensuring they take precedence over foreigners. Regarding the judiciary, Le Pen asserted that international courts should not override domestic decisions, such as deportation orders. She insisted that no foreign or European authority would supersede the French Constitution, emphasizing that the President is primarily the guardian of French interests. Economically, Le Pen pledged spending restraint, lower business taxes, and reduced bureaucracy. She expressed support for industry, innovation, and artificial intelligence, while rejecting further increases to the retirement age. On the European front, she did not advocate for leaving the European Union but called for reducing Brussels' influence, restoring national control over borders and laws, and prioritizing French interests to avoid involvement in foreign wars. She framed the upcoming election as a historic opportunity to fulfill a destiny, telling the crowd that the future belonged to them. The party congress served to display unity within the National Rally. Jordan Bardella was re-elected as party president and presented as Le Pen's preferred choice for Prime Minister. However, Bardella's speech was interrupted by activists from a Jewish student union. They drew attention to recent allegations that he made antisemitic statements during his youth, claims he denies. Le Pen has spent over a decade transforming the party she inherited from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 2011, aiming to soften its image and broaden its appeal beyond its traditional anti-immigration base. Le Pen’s legal status adds another layer to her campaign. She faces the possibility of campaigning while wearing an electronic ankle monitor due to a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. She has appealed the court verdict. Despite these challenges, her spokespersons reiterated messages of calm regarding the safety of the events, citing guarantees for public order. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez visited the site on Friday for inspection, noting that the situation felt like the campaign was already underway. Regional official Hugues Moutouh had prohibited all demonstrations in much of the Orléans metropolitan area on Sunday. The political landscape remains highly polarized. Both Le Pen and Mélenchon have engaged in a fierce debate focused on the violence that erupted on the margins of the October 17 demonstrations. Surveys indicate that voters are moving toward political extremes, abandoning mainstream parties. Le Pen is projected to win the first round by a wide margin and defeat any opponent, including Mélenchon, in a runoff vote expected in early May. As she concluded her speech, she led the assembled crowd, who waved flags, in singing the national anthem.