Changes

==2017 presidential election==

==2017 presidential election==

[[File:French presidential election, first round, 2017.png|thumb|200px|First round results of the French presidential election. Departments won by Le Pen are shaded dark blue.]]

[[File:French presidential election, first round, 2017.png|thumb|200px|First round results of the French presidential election. Departments won by Le Pen are shaded dark blue.]]

Le Pen ran in the 2017 presidential election, her second presidential election in a row. [[United States]] President [[Donald Trump]] called her the strongest of the presidential candidates, particularly on borders and security.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (April 21, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/21/trump-touts-marine-le-pen-strongest-candidate-french-race/ Trump Touts Le Pen As ‘Strongest’ Candidate in French Presidential Race]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 21, 2017.</ref> British politician and radio talk show host [[Nigel Farage]] endorsed Le Pen.<ref>Kassam, Raheem (May 3, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/03/farage-breaks-cover-french-election-want-see-le-pen-win/ Farage Breaks Cover on French Election: ‘I Want to See Le Pen Win’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2017.</ref> By contrast, former U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] spoke with pro-EU candidate [[Emmanuel Macron]],<ref>Starr, Penny (April 22, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/22/obama-gently-waded-back-politics-speaks-phone-left-leaning-presidential-candidate-macron/ Obama ‘Gently Waded’ Back into Politics: Spoke on Phone with Left-Leaning Presidential Candidate Macron]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref> who stated that terrorism would be "part of our daily lives for the years to come."<ref>Montgomery, Jack (April 21, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/21/macron-terrorism-part-daily-lives-years-paris-shooting/ French Presidential Favourite Macron: Terrorism ‘Part of Our Daily Lives for Years to Come’ After Paris Shooting]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref> After the first round, Obama explicitly endorsed Macron's candidacy.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/04/obama-endorses-macron-in-french-presidential-race.html Obama endorses Macron in French presidential race]. ''Fox News''. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.</ref>

Le Pen ran in the 2017 presidential election, her second presidential election in a row. [[United States]] President [[Donald Trump]] called her the strongest of the presidential candidates, particularly on borders and security.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (April 21, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/21/trump-touts-marine-le-pen-strongest-candidate-french-race/ Trump Touts Le Pen As ‘Strongest’ Candidate in French Presidential Race]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 21, 2017.</ref> British politician and radio talk show host [[Nigel Farage]] endorsed Le Pen.<ref>Kassam, Raheem (May 3, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/03/farage-breaks-cover-french-election-want-see-le-pen-win/ Farage Breaks Cover on French Election: ‘I Want to See Le Pen Win’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2017.</ref> By contrast, former U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] spoke with pro-EU candidate [[Emmanuel Macron]],<ref>Starr, Penny (April 22, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/22/obama-gently-waded-back-politics-speaks-phone-left-leaning-presidential-candidate-macron/ Obama ‘Gently Waded’ Back into Politics: Spoke on Phone with Left-Leaning Presidential Candidate Macron]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref> who stated that terrorism would be "part of our daily lives for the years to come."<ref>Montgomery, Jack (April 21, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/21/macron-terrorism-part-daily-lives-years-paris-shooting/ French Presidential Favourite Macron: Terrorism ‘Part of Our Daily Lives for Years to Come’ After Paris Shooting]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref> After the first round, Obama explicitly endorsed Macron's candidacy.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/04/obama-endorses-macron-in-french-presidential-race.html Obama endorses Macron in French presidential race]. ''Fox News''. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.</ref>

Left-wing opponents of Le Pen stated that even before the election, Le Pen made a large impact, shifting the political debate in France to the right.<ref>Hazareesingh, Sudhir (April 22, 2017). [http://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-national-front-has-already-won-france-election/ Marine Le Pen has already won]. ''Politico''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref>

Left-wing opponents of Le Pen stated that even before the election, Le Pen made a large impact, shifting the political debate in France to the right.<ref>Hazareesingh, Sudhir (April 22, 2017). [https://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-national-front-has-already-won-france-election/ Marine Le Pen has already won]. ''Politico''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref>

Le Pen received second place in the first round of the election on April 23 with over 21% of the vote, meaning she advanced to the second round to face Macron.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/23/french-presidential-election-le-pen-macron-projected-as-winners-in-first-round.html French presidential election: Le Pen, Macron win first round to advance to runoff]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 23, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/apr/23/french-presidential-election-results-2017-latest French election first round results 2017 – Macron and Le Pen go through]. ''The Guardian''. April 23, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.</ref>

Le Pen received second place in the first round of the election on April 23 with over 21% of the vote, meaning she advanced to the second round to face Macron.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/23/french-presidential-election-le-pen-macron-projected-as-winners-in-first-round.html French presidential election: Le Pen, Macron win first round to advance to runoff]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 23, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/apr/23/french-presidential-election-results-2017-latest French election first round results 2017 – Macron and Le Pen go through]. ''The Guardian''. April 23, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.</ref>

Le Pen chose conservative nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, the president of the political party France Arise, to be her prime minister if elected.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/30/endorsement-le-pen-picks-gaullist-conservative-potential-prime-minister/ After His Endorsement, Le Pen Picks ‘Gaullist’ Conservative As Potential Prime Minister]. ''Breitbart News''. April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.</ref><ref>Blamont, Matthias; Carraud, Simon (29 April 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/29/french-presidential-hopeful-le-pen-names-nationalist-as-prime-minister.html French Presidential Hopeful Le Pen Names Nationalist as Prime Minister]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 30, 2017.</ref>

Le Pen chose conservative nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, the president of the political party France Arise, to be her prime minister if elected.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/30/endorsement-le-pen-picks-gaullist-conservative-potential-prime-minister/ After His Endorsement, Le Pen Picks ‘Gaullist’ Conservative As Potential Prime Minister]. ''Breitbart News''. April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.</ref><ref>Blamont, Matthias; Carraud, Simon (29 April 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/29/french-presidential-hopeful-le-pen-names-nationalist-as-prime-minister.html French Presidential Hopeful Le Pen Names Nationalist as Prime Minister]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 30, 2017.</ref>

Although Le Pen lost the election with just under 34% of the vote, the election was a victory for her in a sense as it showed that she, her party, and their ideas had entered and were influencing the French mainstream.<ref>Mohdin, Aamna (May 8, 2017). [https://qz.com/975521/marine-le-pen-lost-the-vote-but-she-won-something-better/ Marine Le Pen lost the vote but she won something better]. ''Quartz''. Retrieved May 8, 2017.</ref> Soon after the election, it was revealed that even if Le Pen had won, the [[liberal elite]] in France would have taken steps to keep her from actually welding power.<ref>Dettmer, Jamie (May 19, 2017). [http://www.voanews.com/a/french-officials-secret-plan-marine-le-pen-win-media-says/3861923.html Media: French Officials Had Secret Plan in Event of Le Pen Win]. ''Voice of America''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref>

Although Le Pen lost the election with just under 34% of the vote, the election was a victory for her in a sense as it showed that she, her party, and their ideas had entered and were influencing the French mainstream.<ref>Mohdin, Aamna (May 8, 2017). [https://qz.com/975521/marine-le-pen-lost-the-vote-but-she-won-something-better/ Marine Le Pen lost the vote but she won something better]. ''Quartz''. Retrieved May 8, 2017.</ref> Soon after the election, it was revealed that even if Le Pen had won, the [[liberal elite]] in France would have taken steps to keep her from actually welding power.<ref>Dettmer, Jamie (May 19, 2017). [http://www.voanews.com/a/french-officials-secret-plan-marine-le-pen-win-media-says/3861923.html Media: French Officials Had Secret Plan in Event of Le Pen Win]. ''Voice of America''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref>