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The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles laun...
AnewZ provides an examination of Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally party, and explores her ascent in French politics, her controversial policy positions, and the recent legal challenges she faces.
Marine Le Pen, born Marion Anne Perrine Le Pen on August 5, 1968, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, is a prominent French politician known for her leadership of the far-right National Rally (formerly National Front) party.
She succeeded her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, as the party leader in 2011 and held the position until 2022.
Le Pen has been a significant figure in French politics, running for the presidency in 2012, 2017, and 2022.
Despite not winning, she has consistently garnered substantial support, reflecting her influence and the growing appeal of far-right ideologies in France. In the 2022 presidential election, she captured over 40% of the vote, the highest ever for a National Rally candidate.
Her political career has been marked by controversy, including investigations by the European Anti-Fraud Office for misusing funds during her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament. Despite these challenges, Le Pen has remained a steadfast advocate for her party's nationalist and anti-immigration policies.
Le Pen's leadership has seen the National Rally evolve, distancing itself from some of the more extreme positions held by her father, while still maintaining a strong stance on issues like immigration and national sovereignty.
Her recent activities include visits to Chad and an invitation from the Israeli government, indicating her ongoing influence and the strategic moves to expand her political reach.
Recent Legal Troubles
Marine Le Pen's political journey took a dramatic turn recently when she was convicted of embezzlement by a French court. The trial, which began in November 2024, culminated in a verdict on March 31, 2025, finding Le Pen guilty of misusing European Union funds to pay party staff between 2004 and 2016.
The court ruled that Le Pen and 24 other figures from her National Rally party had diverted more than 4 million euros of European Parliament funds, violating EU regulations. The judge stated that the funds were not used for legitimate parliamentary purposes but were instead part of a scheme to reduce the party's costs.
As a result, Le Pen was handed a five-year ban from public office, effectively barring her from running in the 2027 presidential race unless she successfully appeals the decision. Additionally, she received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a fine of €100,000.
This conviction marks a significant setback for Le Pen, who has been a front-runner in opinion polls for the 2027 presidential election.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting outside a school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Tuesday, as a wave of student demonstrations continues across France.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom believes Iran was likely behind an alleged plot connected to RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire in England that has played a role in U.S. operations against Iran, escalating tensions between London and Tehran.
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