Marine Le Pen’s niece quits political life for a while for personal, political reasons

Failed French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen has decided not to stand for re-election in June’s legislative elections, a move that lays bare the divisions in the party.

The 27-year-old, one of only two National Front (FN) lawmakers in the outgoing parliament and a popular figure among the party faithful, said in a letter to the Le Dauphine Libere newspaper that she would be leaving political life for a while for personal and political reasons.

Marine Le Pen’s defeat in Sunday’s presidential election against centrist Emmanuel Macron has triggered a rare public display of disagreement at the top of the far-right party. “You know my story, you know I’ve been in this political world all my life. At 27 (year old) it is time for me to leave it for some time,” Marechal-Le Pen was quoted as saying in the paper. “I am not giving up for ever on this political battle,” she added.

Marechal-Le Pen, whom some in the party hope will eventually take over from her aunt, and who always gets loud applause at party rallies, is more conservative on social and economic issues. “This raises a lot of questions on how the party will evolve,” said …read more