FRANCE: Far-right leader Marine Le Pen lays wreath at Joan of Arc statue, commemorating 600th anniversary of birth of French national heroine

Record ID: 863345

  • Title: FRANCE: Far-right leader Marine Le Pen lays wreath at Joan of Arc statue, commemorating 600th anniversary of birth of French national heroine
  • Date: 2nd May 2012
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 1, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NATIONAL FRONT LEADER AND EX-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MARINE LE PEN WITH FATHER AND FORMER NATIONAL FRONT LEADER JEAN-MARIE LE PEN LAYING WREATH AT FOOT OF JOAN OF ARC STATUE CROWD OF NATIONAL FRONT SUPPORTERS MARINE LE PEN WAVING TO SUPPORTERS CROWD OF SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS MARINE LE PEN WITH SUPPORTERS PODIUM SET UP IN FRONT OF OPERA GARNIER SUPPORTERS IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: History,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACLFXLW17AJEL7Z1U8IOFJIGAZ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Former presidential hopeful and leader of the far right National Front Marine Le Pen was joined by her father Jean-Marie for an event in Paris on Tuesday (May 1) to commemorate the 600th birthday of Joan of Arc.
    The "Maid of Orleans" is hailed as a heroine of French nationalism by the far-right National Front and father and daughter laid a wreath at the foot of her statue a stone's throw from Paris's Opera Garnier.
    Marine Le Pen's surprise score of 17.9 percent in the presidential election's first round has thrown the last fortnight of the campaign into disarray. Incumbent President Sarkozy has been accused of tacking to the right in recent days to woo her supporters with rhetoric about immigration and national identity.
    Marine Le Pen has said that she might use her speech at the rally to advise her supporters how to vote in the second round. The event had been widely anticipated because of Le Pen's status as kingmaker in an election campaign which has become increasingly toxic in recent days.
    The National Front has used May 1 to celebrate Joan of Arc Day since 1988, when party-founder Jean-Marie Le Pen introduced the tradition to appeal to Catholic voters.
    The Saint has been seized upon by the far-right as a nationalist symbol. She is credited with awakening the national consciousness by leading the French against the English and securing the coronation of Charles V.
    Around half of Le Pen's supporters say they plan to vote for Sarkozy in the runoff, but the rest will either vote Hollande or abstain.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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