World · Malaysia Bureau
Le Pen launches presidential bid as France gripped by cost-of-living protests
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has begun her campaign for the French presidency as more than 400,000 people demonstrated nationwide against rising living costs. Clashes erupted in several cities as masked protesters engaged police during the demonstrations.
LSN Malaysia ·
Marine Le Pen, the National Rally's presidential candidate, formally launched her bid for the Élysée Palace as France experienced widespread social unrest over economic hardship. The timing underscores the political turbulence gripping the country as households struggle with inflation and stagnating wages.
Mass protests swept across French cities, with demonstrators expressing frustration over the deteriorating cost of living. The scale of participation—exceeding 400,000 people according to organisers—reflected public anxiety about purchasing power and economic stability in the eurozone's second-largest economy.
The demonstrations took a violent turn in several locations when groups of masked youths broke away from peaceful marches to confront law enforcement. Police responded with crowd-control measures, leading to scenes of chaos in urban centres as the broader protest movement struggled to contain the militant fringe.
Le Pen's campaign launch coincides with the social unrest, potentially capitalising on voter dissatisfaction with incumbent Emmanuel Macron's handling of the economic crisis. The convergence of Le Pen's political positioning and public discontent over living standards sets the stage for a contentious presidential race.