Marine Le Pen, far-right leader shaking up French politics.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the renewed French far-right, has managed to establish herself as a prominent figure in French politics, generating a notable impact in the national and international political sphere. Her victory in the European elections on June 9, where she obtained an impressive 31.4% of the votes, has highlighted her growing influence and support among French voters. What attracts voters to Marine Le Pen and her party, National Rally (RN)? Since her historic third place in the 2012 elections, Marine Le Pen has been gaining political ground, revitalizing the National Front (FN) founded by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 1972. Despite being defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 presidential elections, Le Pen has continued to strengthen her base of followers and currently positions herself as the favorite candidate to lead the next French government. One of the keys to her success lies in her ability to connect with the concerns and fears of a significant portion of the French population. Le Pen has been able to capitalize on the growing wave of right-wing populism in Europe, presenting herself as an alternative to the established political elite and promoting a discourse that resonates with voters concerned about issues such as the cost of living, crime, and immigration. Unlike her initially radical and exclusionary discourse, Le Pen has moderated her message, adopting a more diplomatic and conciliatory stance. She now prioritizes the defense of "French interests first" and proposes an ideology more compatible with liberal democracy, which has allowed her to expand her base of followers and present herself as a more acceptable option for many French people. The rise of authoritarian and populist leaders worldwide, as well as the financial support from Russian and Hungarian banks, have also contributed to strengthening the figure of Marine Le Pen. Her more approachable and colloquial leadership style, combined with a less confrontational and more proactive approach, has won over a portion of the electorate that sees in her a leader capable of addressing France's current challenges. Despite her advances in the polls and her growing popularity, Marine Le Pen continues to face criticism and resistance from her detractors, who warn about the potentially harmful impact of her policies and their divisive effect on French society. There is a fear that, if she were to come to power, Le Pen could destabilize the established order and promote an anti-EU and anti-immigration agenda. The French political landscape is currently marked by uncertainty and polarization, with strong tensions between different political forces and a growing fragmentation of the electorate. The upcoming early legislative elections on June 30 and July 7 present a challenging scenario for Marine Le Pen and her party, where they will have to demonstrate whether they can turn their popular support into parliamentary backing. In a context marked by urgency and distrust in traditional institutions, the rise of figures like Marine Le Pen reflects a global trend towards nationalism and protectionism. Her potential rise to power could represent a significant change in French and European politics, with implications that could extend beyond national borders. Le Pen's influence and her ability to resonate with the concerns of French citizens make her a figure to be reckoned with in the current political landscape.