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Marine Le Pen during the meeting with Vladimir Putin. Photo by The Russian Presidential Press and Information Office on

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Marine Le Pen

Marine Le Pen is a French lawyer and politician. She ran for the French presidency three times.

She is a member of the National Rally, previously the National Front. Marine served as its president from 2011 to 2021. Le Pen has been a member of the National Assembly for the 11th constituency of Pas-de-Calais since 2017.

Marine Le Pen was born on 5 August 1968 in Neuilly-sur-seine. She is the youngest of three daughters of Jean-Marie Le Pen and Pierrette Le Pen. Her father has been a Breton politician and former paratrooper.

Let鈥檚 learn more about the Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Marine Le Pen

1. Her father was a Target of a Bomb Attack

Le Pen鈥檚 father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has been a Breton politician and former paratrooper. However, in 1976, when she was either, her father was targeted.

A bomb meant for him exploded in the stairwell outside the family鈥檚 apartment as they slept. The blast ripped a hole in the outside wall of their home. However, no one was harmed.

2. She Worked as a Lawyer for Six Years

French presidential candidate, chairman of the National Front party Marine Le Pen. Photo by Anna Isakova on

Panth茅on-Assas University is where Le Pen studied law. She graduated with a Master of Law in 1991. Furthermore, a master of Advanced Studies in criminal law in 1992.

Le pen worked as a lawyer for six years, registered at the 麻豆APP bar association. She appeared regularly before the criminal chamber of the 23rd district court of 麻豆APP. Moreover, she often acted as a public defender.

Le Pen worked as a member of the 麻豆APP Bar until 1988. She later worked with the legal department of the National Front.

3. Vice President of a Party Founded by her Father

Le Pen joined the administrative apparatus of the National Front. The National Front was founded by her father in 1972.

Le Pen was the main right-wing opposition to Franc鈥檚 mainstream conservative parties. She became the National Front鈥檚 vice president after serving as the director of the party鈥檚 legal affairs.

Le Pen made a successful run for a seat in the European Parliament. Later, her profile within the National Front was established. Le Pen managed her father鈥檚 presidential campaign in 2007.

4. She Distanced Herself from Her Father鈥檚 Controversial Statements

Marine Le Pen. Photo by Ann Isakova on

In 2010, Le pen expressed her interest to run for president of the National Front. During the campaigns, Le Pen emerged from her father鈥檚 shadow and became a national figure on her own. She distanced herself from her father鈥檚 controversial statements.

Her father had attracted various controversies such as those relating to war crimes. They were reported in the media as attempts to improve the party鈥檚 image.

Her father had attracted controversy of the mass murder of Jews in gas Chambers. . He claimed that murder that occurred during the Holocaust was 鈥渁 detail of the history of World War II鈥�. However, Le Pen described genocide as 鈥渢he height of barbarism鈥�.

After her campaigns, she won as the National Front leader in 2011. She easily Succeeded her father.

5. Worked Hard to Change the Image of the National Front Party

As the president of the FN, she sought to soften the xenophobic image of the party. She hoped to transform it into a mainstream party.

Marine worked hard to create a new image for FN. She was considerably successful in her endeavour.

She also expelled e of her father from the party in 2015. Moreover, the expulsion of members accused of racism, antisemitism or P茅tainism.

Under her leadership, the party鈥檚 popularity increased. she was able to strengthen its position in the national political scenario.

6. She Was Criticized for Racist and Xenophobic

Meeting of Marine Le Pen in Lille on Sunday, March 26, 2017, for the presidential election. Photo by J茅r茅my-G眉nther-Heinz J盲hnick on Wikimedia

Marine le Pen received media attention due to a comment made during a speech to National Front Party members. This was in Lyon on 10 December 2010.

Marine compared Muslim prayers in the streets of France with the Nazi occupation of France. She said;

鈥淔or those who want to talk a lot about World War II, if it鈥檚 about occupation, then we could also talk about it (Muslim prayers in the streets) because that is the occupation of territory … It is an occupation of sections of the territory, of districts in which religious laws apply. There are of course no tanks, there are no soldiers, but it is nevertheless an occupation and it weighs heavily on residents.鈥�

Her comments were much criticized. Government spokesman Fran莽ois Baroin characterized her remarks as racist and xenophobic.

Her comment was condemned by various groups. Such as The Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), the French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) and the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA).

However, on 15 December 2015, a Lyon court acquitted her of inciting hatred. The court ruled that her statement did not target all Muslim communities. The statement was protected as freedom of expression.

7. She ran for the French Presidency Three Times

Le Pen expressed her interest to be the French President three times. However, she lost three attempts.

In 2012, she placed third in the presidential election with 17.9% of the vote. Le Pen was behind Fran莽ois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

During the 2017 election, she launched a second bid for the presidency. However, She finished second in the first round of the election with 21.3% of the vote. She faced Emmanuel Macron of the centrist party in the second round of voting.

On 7 May 2017, she conceded defeat. This after receiving approximately 33.9% of the vote in the second round.

In 2020, Le Pen announced her third candidacy for the presidency in the 2022 election. She came second in the first round of the election.

Le Pen qualified for the second round against Macron. However, She lost in the second round to Macron.

8. Le Pen Blamed France鈥檚 Immigration policy for a Deadly Terrorist Attack in 麻豆APP

Presentation of Marine Le Pen’s presidential programme, Saturday 19 November 2011, Banquet des Mille, Salle 脡quinoxe, 麻豆APP. Photo by NdFrayssinet on

On November 13, 2015, a deadly terrorist attack in 麻豆APP left 130 people dead. Furthermore, more than 350 were wounded. Marine Le Pen was quick to blame former president Hollande and France鈥檚 immigration policy.

9. She was Placed under Criminal Investigation by French Authorities

Le Pen was placed under Criminal Investigation by French Authorities for the misuse of funds. She wasted the funds during her time as a member of the European Parliament.

The European Anti-Fraud Office alleged that Le Pen had misspent some 鈧�5 million ($5.4 million) on National Front party business. The European Anti-Fraud Office is an EU body charged with investigating economic crimes and corruption involving EU funds.

10. She Advocated a Tough Line on Immigration

Marine Le Pen. Photo by Emmanuel d’Aubignosc on

Le Pen stated that multiculturalism has failed. She argued for the de-Islamisation of French society.

Furthermore, she called for a prohibition on legal immigration. She revoked laws allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents.

Moreover, she argued for the reduction of benefits provided to immigrants. To reduce incentives for new immigrants.