The Local France

France's far-right patriarch refused questioning in EU fraud case

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 18:04:45 +0200

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France's far-right National Front party, refused to submit to police questioning last month as part of an EU funding inquiry, claiming immunity as a European Parliament lawmaker, his adviser said Sunday.

French far-right party approves 'National Rally' name

Sat, 02 Jun 2018 10:07:28 +0200

France's far-right National Front, trying to shake off its reputation for racism that has tinged the party for decades, approved a name change on Friday as it seeks new momentum under leader Marine Le Pen.

Changing party names won't help Le Pen win power, her extreme values are the problem

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 23:30:46 +0100

Marine Le Pen's bid to change the name of her National Front party descended into farce and legal wrangling on Monday. But far right experts claim any rebranding will fail to achieve what she wants.

'History is on our side,' Bannon tells National Front meeting in France

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 09:39:39 +0100

Former top Trump aide Steve Bannon told the French far right on Saturday that "history is on our side" as he addressed the party conference of a National Front that is seeking to bounce back from crushing electoral setbacks.

Who are the millions of French voters backing Marine Le Pen?

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:48:17 +0200

Who are they, where are they, and what matters most to the record number of voters supporting Marine Le Pen?

French Socialists beat Le Pen's far right in key vote

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 09:20:00 +0100

France's ruling Socialists on Sunday narrowly won a key by-election, beating the far-right National Front candidate in what was President Francois Hollande's first major ballot test since the Paris attacks.

Far right stuns France in by-election vote

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 14:33:00 +0200

France's political establishment was left reeling on Monday after two far-right candidates almost claimed 50 percent of votes in a by-election. A Socialist government spokesman called it a "warning shot" ahead of upcoming municipal elections.

Former French PM Fillon breaks far-right taboo

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:33:41 +0200

The question of how to deal with the growing popularity of France's National Front party has left the main UMP opposition party torn apart, after former PM François Fillon suggested that the anti-immigration party should no longer be treated as a pariah.

Roma group to sue Le Pen for 'smelly' remarks

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:03:00 +0200

Three rights groups have launched legal proceedings against Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France's far-right National Front party, after he labelled members of the Roma community “smelly” and “rash-inducing,”.

French far-right as popular as major parties

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:43:00 +0200

The far-right, anti-immigration National Front, led by Marine Le Pen, would match France’s mainstream political parties if European elections were held this weekend, according to a poll published on Wednesday.

France's Le Pen lambasts 'European Soviet Union'

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:38:00 +0100

Around 100 protesters greeted the controversial appearance of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen at a debate held at Britain's Cambridge University on Tuesday. During her speech Le Pen called for a "new deal" on immigration.

One-third of French agree with Le Pen's ideas

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:10:00 +0100

A record one-third of French people are sympathetic to the ideas of the country's far-right National Front party, an annual survey revealed on Wednesday.

Far-right blogger fined for anti-gay mayor post

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:15:00 +0200

A far-right activist has been fined €6,000 for homophobic remarks about Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë on his blog.

'Misunderstanding' over Le Pen meeting with Israeli ambassador

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:21:38 +0100

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen seized on the attendance of an Israeli ambassador at a lunch she hosted on Thursday at the United Nations to counter her party's xenophobic image.

Marine Le Pen defends US visit

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:58:00 +0100

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said on Wednesday her trip to the United States remained a success despite scoring meetings with only a small handful of political figures.