Le Pen Pledges Tougher Laws in French Presidential Campaign

Marine Le Pen has pledged to restore law and order, tighten immigration rules and protect France's national identity as she begins her campaign to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking to 8,500 supporters in Orléans, the far-right candidate presented her proposals amid weeks of protests over living costs, clashes and growing public concern about security.

Le Pen, 58, is seeking the presidency in elections scheduled to begin in April, despite an appeals court upholding her graft conviction. An Ipsos survey published the day before her speech suggested she could secure 32%-34% of first-round votes.

During her address, Le Pen promised to reverse what she described as a breakdown in public order following looting and arson on the sidelines of demonstrations.

"We are going to restore the rule of law," Le Pen said.

She questioned whether the authorities had maintained control amid the unrest and accused Macron's centrist government of being too soft on violent protesters.

"Who can claim that there is a rule of law when hordes come to ransack and burn our buildings?" Le Pen said.

She also promised to strengthen border controls and make French citizenship more restrictive, presenting national identity as a central campaign issue.

"We will restore our borders, and even establish double borders, both French and European," Le Pen said.

She added that citizenship should become a status people either inherit or earn under her proposed approach.

"French nationality will once again become a privilege that is either inherited or earned," Le Pen said.

Le Pen also pledged to preserve France's language, traditions, values and way of life. Her supporters waved French flags as she called for renewed national strength.

"We want France to regain its strength," Le Pen said.

She described her political program as a break with the past rather than a return to earlier policies. Supporters responded to her speech with chants declaring their confidence in an electoral victory.

"We're going to win, we're going to win," supporters chanted during the rally.

Le Pen's campaign comes as unions, students and Yellow Vest protesters continue to mobilize over economic pressures and public services. More than 400,000 people marched over the cost of living, while police made more than 1,300 arrests during unrest, according to the report.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez blamed much of the violence on extremist groups associated with the far left, describing them as "ultra-left" extremists.

Le Pen's nationalist, anti-immigration party has made immigration restrictions and public security central to its political platform. The candidate has run for president three times previously.

Her deputy, Jordan Bardella, received a standing ovation before her speech and promised tougher action against far-left extremists, a lower age of criminal responsibility of 16 and the deportation of people he described as "delinquents and criminals."

Bardella's address was briefly interrupted by members of a Jewish student union, who displayed a banner referring to a French media report alleging that he had deleted antisemitic messages from an old Facebook account.

Thousands of opponents of Le Pen and her National Rally party also marched through Orléans, chanting anti-fascist slogans. Their protest reflected concerns that a far-right government could intensify divisions in France.

One counter-protester, 35-year-old yoga teacher Antonine Rochet, said she feared the consequences of a National Rally victory.

"If the far right comes to power, we fear things will become much worse," Rochet said.

Le Pen's supporters also cited economic insecurity as a reason for backing her candidacy. Charlene Malingre, 23, attended the rally wearing a scarf bearing the words "Marine President."

Malingre said she believed Le Pen could address concerns about the economy, security and law enforcement.

"I think Marine Le Pen could save France from the state it's in today... particularly when it comes to the economy, security and maintaining law and order," Malingre told AFP.

If elected, Le Pen has also promised to reduce living costs by capping household energy bills, cutting taxes and reducing France's contribution to the European Union. She has criticized NATO and France's support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

The Ipsos survey indicated substantial public anger over the unrest, with a majority of respondents believing the government bore responsibility. France's next president will also face financial constraints, as the country's debt and budget deficit exceed European Union limits and Macron's government struggles to advance a cost-cutting budget.