In a speech lasting more than an hour, Marine Le Pen reviewed her program. Addressing immigration, state finances, and national preference, economic patriotism ultimately emerged as the cornerstone of her national ambition.
The Acropolis was in a frenzy—somewhat stirred up by Jean-Marie Le Pen’s entrance—for the conclusion of the FN’s summer university. And for good reason, Marine Le Pen was about to deliver a speech, which was expected to embody the hope of a president with an FN label (although neither the flame nor the party’s name were ostentatiously displayed in the room). The only rallying signs displayed were the eternal tricolor flags and signs reading “Marine President,” a new image for a dream never approached as closely and barely disguised: the Elysée.
After a lengthy list of saluted people: the French and all overseas compatriots, from those in Réunion to Mahorans, not forgetting the French abroad, Marine Le Pen started with a brief retrospective. The FN has climbed back up since 2007 and is now set to “reveal the truth,” with Sarkozy being “an immense deception.” “The reorganization of our movement has turned it into a war machine for 2012.”
Sovereignty and Social Justice
No high-placed friends or financial power at their side, but “better: the sincerity of those who believe in the righteousness of what they defend.” “How can one claim to be in opposition when they agree on the essentials?” Marine Le Pen would quip. Her political fight is, for her, “the only one that matters” for “the happiness of France and the French,” when the “old parties,” namely the UMPS, and “their satellites” have “the sole obsession of power for power’s sake.”
Cheered and acclaimed by the room at this moment, it was not these cheers and cries of “Marine! Marine!” that triggered the most reactions. When she mocked the socialists: “look at the PS; from Jaurès to Désir,” boos filled the audience, and laughter erupted with “UMP’s 2017 objective” and “Fillon’s counter-meeting of Estrosi’s counter-meeting.”
She did not fail to acknowledge the presence in the room of Paul-Marie Couteaux, a former sovereignist from the RPF (Rally for France), as well as the well-appreciated presence of Peyrat, the former mayor from 1995 to 2008 and a former FN member.
Marine Le Pen criticized foreign policy, saying, “we lament France’s sovereignty yet act in Libya under NATO’s banner” while the “rebels we are aiding are riddled with jihadists,” using the 10th anniversary of September 11 to create a chill. More frightening still is the “three-headed monster ECB/IMF/EU,” also connected to Sarkozy’s policy, “who mistook discretion for prudishness.” In addition to the glitz, his forceful passage on the European Constitution was also condemned. In short: “he is merely doing PR, playing a role but not embodying.” Understand, the grandeur of the role of head of state.
Like the [local supporters of Martine Aubry](https://www.nicepremium.fr/politique,3/autres,60/le-comite-de-soutien-a-martine-aubry-en-ordre-de-marche,7933.html) last Thursday, she denounced Nicolas Sarkozy’s management responsibility for the debt: “two-thirds.”
On this already historic date of September 11, which the Marinists would like to make more personal to French history, Marine Le Pen has already projected herself into what she hopes will be her future role. Aware of her chances of making it to the second round, she set the tone by listing her actions as president: “I will remove,” “my government,” concluding with a quote from Richelieu: “the French must be for France.”
Whether the French are or vote… for her.
