Marine Le Pen launched her campaign for the 2027 French presidential election on Sunday in Orléans, positioning herself as the candidate to restore order and national confidence amid recent protests that turned violent.

The far-right leader addressed thousands of supporters at a rally following her party's congress. She vowed to enforce a hard line on immigration, automatically expel foreign criminals, and crack down on crime and drug trafficking. Le Pen emphasized restoring the "rule of law," criticizing lax justice policies under President Emmanuel Macron.

She framed her vision around a national "renaissance," promising to preserve French cultural identity, language, traditions, and values. Le Pen pledged to curb EU influence, restore border controls, and put French interests first, while rejecting any foreign authority superseding the constitution.

Recent unrest over living costs and inequality has boosted her standing. An Ipsos poll published Sunday showed her at 32% to 33.5% support, far ahead of hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 17%. Surveys indicate she would win a runoff against him comfortably.

Le Pen, making her fourth presidential run, chose Orléans for its historical ties to Joan of Arc, a symbol of national resistance. She distanced her platform from nostalgia, calling it the "dawn of a new era." Her party has also highlighted unity with Jordan Bardella, who would likely serve as prime minister in a Le Pen government.

France faces economic pressures including high debt and a budget deficit exceeding EU limits. Le Pen has proposed measures like capping energy bills and cutting certain taxes, while maintaining fiscal restraint in some areas.

Her legal challenges persist, including a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds, though appeals have allowed her candidacy to proceed. Despite this, polls reflect strong momentum for her nationalist platform as voters shift away from mainstream parties.