Le Pen Holds ‘Renaissance’ Rally in Orléans, Pitching Law and Order

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's radical-right National Rally party, addressed supporters under the theme “Renaissance” at the Zénith Arena in Orléans on Sunday. Analysts say she is close to winning the presidency, and she has topped popularity polls in France for months. She remains polarising, but her support among her base is described as deep and growing.

Protests and a clash with the press

The day before, protests took place across the country, and more than ten thousand demonstrators gathered outside the venue to oppose Le Pen. Tensions with the media also emerged beforehand: four journalists from the investigative outlet Mediapart were ejected from the event, though they were allowed back later.

The party and the website have long been at odds. Mediapart published private Facebook messages allegedly written as a teenager by National Rally politician Jordan Bardella, containing strongly antisemitic language. Bardella has filed a defamation suit and called the report a political attack meant to undermine the credibility of the party.

What she said

Le Pen stressed that “Renaissance” did not mean nostalgia or turning the clock back. After months of upheaval in the country, student protests and accusations that both the radical right and left are poisoning politics, she set out her platform. It centres on law and order, which she claimed was lacking under President Emmanuel Macron, and on her vision of what she called a “National Community”.

Alexandre Sabatou, a National Rally MP for Oise in northern France, which covers Chantilly, Beauvais and Compiègne, was a guest on the programme discussing the event.