‘Marine has to win’: Le Pen supporters fear for France’s future

Thousands of far-right supporters gathered in Orleans on Sunday to witness the official launch of presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's campaign for the National Rally. Wrapped in the French flag, Le Pen's fans enjoyed a festive atmosphere, consuming hot dogs and French fries while purchasing merchandise bearing her name. However, deep-seated concerns about France's future lingered among the roughly 8,500 people who attended the rally.

Loic Le Tourneau, a 25-year-old National Rally supporter, expressed growing apprehension about escalating insecurity in France, citing a decade-long deterioration. Despite not personally experiencing the uptick in insecurity, Le Tourneau believed things would continue to worsen under the current centrist government led by President Emmanuel Macron. He warned that the National Rally must win the upcoming presidential election to avert further decline.

Polls indicate Le Pen as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Macron, yet critics argue her Eurosceptic party retains a fundamentally racist approach, despite efforts to distance herself from her father's National Front's past racist and antisemitic remarks. Le Pen's campaign launch came amid widespread unrest in France, where peaceful protests have occasionally turned violent and looting persists.

Jacques Olivier, a 65-year-old National Front supporter now part of the National Rally, emphasized the gravity of the situation: "Marine has to win, otherwise France will collapse." Olivier attributed rising crime and violence to unchecked immigration, calling for "radical change." Le Pen invoked Joan of Arc during her speech, likening the Catholic warrior to a symbol of national resistance against foreign threats.

One young supporter, Marie, advocated for stringent immigration policies and vowed that Le Pen's leadership would put an end to violent protests. Despite the gloomy outlook, supporters chanted "We're going to win!" throughout the event, expressing optimism in Le Pen's victory.