Political positions of Marine Le Pen

Marine Le Pen is a French politician, who is the president of the National Rally (French: Rassemblement National, pronounced [ʁasɑ̃bləmɑ̃ nɑsjɔnal]; RN). During her political career she has expressed her positions on a wide range of political issues covering economics, immigration, social issues, and foreign policy. She has stated that as the RN's immigration policies are better known to voters, she focuses her campaigning on the party's economic and social programme.^[1][2]

Described as more democratic and republican than her nationalist father Jean-Marie Le Pen, the previous leader of the party, then named the National Front (French: Front National, pronounced [fʁɔ̃ nɑsjɔnal]; FN), she has attempted to detoxify and soften the party's image. This has been done via reformulation of policy positions, and expulsion of members accused of racism, antisemitism, or Pétainism, including her father.^{[3][4][need quotation to verify]} Marine Le Pen has also relaxed some political positions of the party, advocating for civil unions for same-sex couples instead of her party's previous opposition to legal recognition of same-sex partnerships, accepting unconditional abortion and withdrawing the death penalty from her platform.^[5][6][7][8]

On economic policy, Le Pen favours protectionism as an alternative to free trade.^[9] She supports economic nationalism,^[10] the separation of investment and retail banking,^[11] and energy diversification,^[12] and is opposed to the privatization of public services and social security,^[13][14][15] speculation on international commodity markets,^[13] and the Common Agricultural Policy.^[16]

Le Pen is opposed to globalization, which she blames for various negative economic trends, and opposes European Union supranationalism and federalism, instead favouring a loosely confederate 'Europe of the Nations'.^[17] She has called for France to leave the Eurozone;^[18] however, it was reported in May 2019 that she no longer wishes for France to leave the euro currency.^[19] She has called for a referendum on France leaving the EU.^[20] She has been a vocal opponent of the Treaty of Lisbon,^[21] and opposes EU membership for Turkey and Ukraine.^[22][23] Le Pen has pledged to take France out of NATO and the US sphere of influence.^{[citation needed]} She proposes the replacement of the World Trade Organization,^[24][25] and the abolition of the International Monetary Fund.^[26]

Le Pen and the NF claim that multiculturalism has failed,^[27] and argue for the "de-Islamisation" of French society.^[28] Le Pen has called for a moratorium on legal immigration.^[29] She would repeal laws allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents,^[30] and argues for benefits provided to immigrants to be reduced to remove incentives for new immigrants.^[31] Following the beginning of the Arab Spring and the European migrant crisis, she called for France to withdraw from the Schengen Area and reinstate border controls.^[32][33]

On foreign policy, Le Pen supports the establishment of a privileged partnership with Russia, and states that Ukraine has been "subjugated" by the United States.^[34] She is strongly critical of NATO policy in the region, Eastern European anti-Russian sentiment,^[34] and threats of economic sanctions.^[23]