Wildfires continue in more than 50 locations across Spain
Spain is battling some of the largest wildfires in its history, with uncontrolled blazes raging in more than 50 locations from the north to the south ...
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.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
A deadly heatwave has claimed 1,180 lives in Spain since May, with elderly people most at risk, prompting calls for urgent social support.
Spain is battling some of the largest wildfires in its history, with uncontrolled blazes raging in more than 50 locations from the north to the south of the country, forcing over 4,000 people to spend the night outdoors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without a ceasefire deal.
The United States has deployed more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to waters near Latin America and the Caribbean in a major move against drug cartels, CNN reported on Friday, citing defence officials.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to Washington at the request of the Trump administration, his office confirmed Saturday.
A China-supported landmine elimination project has cleared more than 160 square kilometres of contaminated land in Cambodia since 2018, directly benefiting over 2.6 million people, officials said Saturday.
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