Marine Le Pen launched her 2027 presidential campaign in Hénin-Beaumont, pledging a policy of "national priority" that would give French citizens preference for social housing, welfare and public-sector jobs. She framed the plan as moral and just and named Jordan Bardella as her preferred prime minister. Polls place her as the front‑runner in the first round, but critics warn the proposal faces serious constitutional and human‑rights challenges. Le Pen remains eligible to run after a reduced ban, and she is appealing an upheld graft conviction to the country’s highest court.
Le Pen Vows 'National Priority' for French Citizens as She Launches 2027 Bid
Marine Le Pen is running for the presidency despite a pending appeal in the high court - Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
Marine Le Pen formally opened her 2027 presidential campaign in Hénin-Beaumont, promising a controversial policy of "national priority" that would give French citizens preferential access to social housing, welfare benefits and public-sector jobs.
The National Rally (RN) leader addressed roughly 2,000 supporters in her northern stronghold, framing the proposal as a question of morality and "basic justice." She said the policy would apply to all French people "regardless of their skin colour or religion, their origin or place of residence, and regardless of their region or social status."
"French nationals will have more rights in France than others," she told the crowd, calling the measure a "natural and just right" exercised by other countries.
Le Pen confirmed Jordan Bardella — the RN party leader who had been positioned to run while she faced an electoral ban — as her chosen prime minister should she win. Bardella sat in the front row during the speech.
Jordan Bardella, the RN leader, was being groomed to run when Ms Le Pen was facing a ban from running for or holding public office - Jean-Francois Badias/AP
Opinion polls place Le Pen as the front-runner in the first round of the 2027 election, with Édouard Philippe, leader of the centre-right Horizons party and a former prime minister, her closest rival.
Policy Priorities and Legal Hurdles
Le Pen said boosting housing supply is one of her immediate priorities and advocated rolling back certain environmental regulations to speed construction and ease home ownership. She argued that this would restore a feeling of "harmony in one's home."
However, legal experts and critics warn that a national-priority law would face serious constitutional and human-rights challenges. Opponents describe the plan as discriminatory, and parts of the proposal are already under legal scrutiny for allegedly inciting discrimination against foreigners.
Édouard Philippe served as prime minister between 2017 and 2020 - Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/Getty Images
Earlier this year the anti-racism group Fédération de la Maison des Potes filed a complaint over a municipal candidate's platform that included national priority in social housing, accusing the candidate of provoking discrimination against non-nationals.
Legal Background
Le Pen's campaign launch comes after an appeals court in July upheld a conviction for embezzling EU funds dating to her time as a Member of the European Parliament. She is appealing that verdict to France's highest court. A prior five-year ban from holding public office was reduced to 45 months, with 30 months suspended, which makes her eligible to stand from April 2027.
Her announcement marks her fourth presidential campaign and underscores how legal battles and party tensions will shape the RN's strategy ahead of the vote.
Help us improve.
