- Title: France's Le Pen holds rally in far-right stronghold Saint-Raphael
- Date: 15th March 2017
- Summary: LE PEN WAVING AND BLOWING KISSES AS SUPPORTERS CHEER AND WAVE FLAGS WOMAN WAVING FRENCH FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (French) 55-YEAR-OLD WHO WORKS IN TRANSPORT SECTOR, JEAN-MARC MICALLEF, SAYING: "Europe is in a very, very big crisis. And the European people no longer recognise their political elite." (SOUNDBITE) (French) 22-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM VAR REGION, SEBASTIEN AUSSERRE, SAYING: "In Europe, the nationalists are currently overthrowing the system in place - a system that wants a federal Europe, without borders, and so yes, if he (Dutch far-light leader Geert Wilders) wins, it will be a victory for France because Marine Le Pen will not be alone in the chorus of nations, despite what those in power have been saying for years." (SOUNDBITE) (French) 66-YEAR-OLD RETIRED WOMAN, DANIELE, SAYING: "(A victory by Wilders) would be good for her (Le Pen). It would be good for her, with Brexit, (U.S. President) Donald Trump, Holland, maybe other countries too, so perhaps she will succeed." SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAG
- Embargoed: 29th March 2017 22:54
- Keywords: Le Pen Saint-Raphael Marine Le Pen rally election France 2017 National Front
- Location: SAINT-RAPHAEL, FRANCE
- City: SAINT-RAPHAEL, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA005682P16V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched a blistering attack on her opponents at a rally on Wednesday (March 15) in the National Front stronghold of Saint-Raphael in the Var region on the southern coast.
In a style reminiscent of U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rallies, Le Pen said France's left and the right "have run out of steam" as she criticised the country's decision to allow Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to hold a rally in Metz. Dutch authorities prevented Turkey's ministers from speaking at rallies of expatriate Turks in a diplomatic row between the two nations.
Interrupting her speech with chants of "Marine, president!" supporters said Le Pen was part of a movement of anti-EU sovereignists, including Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders, who are overthrowing the traditional systems.
Opinion polls show Le Pen beating conservative candidate Francois Fillon and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron in the first round of the upcoming French presidential election, but then Macron comfortably defeating Le Pen in the second round. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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