Marine Le Pen has vowed to lead France towards a national “rebirth” during her speech at the National Rally congress in Orléans on Sunday. Her address combined an optimistic vision for the country with firm commitments on immigration, security, and sovereignty.
Le Pen, who is the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election, invoked Joan of Arc while encouraging supporters to shake off what she called a mood of resignation and defeatism. “No defeat is final as long as a people refuses to resign themselves to it,” she stated in a city symbolically tied to the medieval heroine.
Despite her recent conviction for mishandling European public funds being upheld on appeal, Le Pen framed her campaign as a broader movement for national renewal. “Our only guiding principle is France, its recovery, and the happiness of the French people,” she said.
Le Pen’s speech, held under tight security as anti-fascist demonstrators gathered several kilometres away, promised a “Renaissance for France” focused on enhanced security and prosperity. She also condemned “new forms of obscurantism,” which she linked to Islamism, far-left politics, and anti-progress sentiment.
She outlined plans for government reform, advocating for more referendums and proportional representation, and emphasised, “If we want power, my friends, it is not for ourselves, but to return it to the people.”
On immigration, Le Pen took a hard stance, pledging automatic deportation for foreign nationals committing offences, and proposed a ban on “communitarianism”—a term used in France to describe communities organised around distinct religious or ethnic identities. She chose not to repeat her previous promise to lower the retirement age to 60, instead stating it would not rise beyond 64.
In foreign policy, she asserted her intention to keep France “a nation of peace,” distancing it from foreign conflicts. Furthermore, she reinforced the party’s principle of “national priority,” insisting that the French Constitution must take precedence over foreign authorities, including those from the European Union.
Meanwhile, a protest took place just outside the congress venue, with around a hundred anti-fascist activists gathering near an administrative detention centre about four kilometres from Le Pen’s speech location. Despite a ban on gatherings, demonstrators assembled outside the restricted area. Police used batons against some protesters attempting to block a road but ultimately allowed them to disperse under escort.
The protests followed a peaceful anti-RN march on Saturday, which drew between 13,000 and 26,000 participants, according to varying estimates. Over the weekend, approximately 3,000 police officers were deployed in Orléans to manage the situation.
