France arrests far-right policeman suspected of planning terror attack

French far-right politician Eric Zemmour announced on Friday his intention to participate in next year's presidential election, pledging to take a tough stance on immigration and expel unemployed foreigners, regardless of their legal status. As the head of the Reconquest party, Zemmour, who placed fourth in the 2022 presidential race, addressed this stance to the BFMTV broadcaster.

His entry into the race comes as Marine Le Pen, another prominent far-right candidate, appears poised for her strongest opportunity to assume power following the anticipated resignation of President Emmanuel Macron in the coming year. A July court decision has since reduced Le Pen's ban from public office due to a corruption conviction.

Zemmour, a veteran anti-immigration figure from the National Rally party, supported a halt to immigration and the deportation of foreigners back to their home countries. He emphasized that all foreign offenders, even those not in prison, should be sent back, along with undocumented immigrants, long-term unemployed individuals, and those reliant on welfare benefits.

Recent opinion polls have led Le Pen to be projected as the frontrunner in the first round of the elections. While centrist ex-prime minister Edouard Philippe may advance to a second round against Le Pen, provided his centrist rival Gabriel Attal withdraws, the survey of 13,000 voters suggested Jean-Luc Melenchon, the hard-left leader, might face her in that scenario.