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Latest update: 21/03/2011
- French politics - Marine Le Pen
'France is collapsing,' Le Pen says
After several polls showed Marine Le Pen more than holding her own against rivals in a hypothetical presidential match-up, FRANCE 24 sat down with the far-right leader for a wide-ranging interview touching on Europe, immigration and nuclear energy.
By FRANCE 24 (text)
Riding high on strong showings in a handful of French polls on the 2012 presidential election, National Front leader Marine Le Pen has had an early start on the campaign trail.
The far right politician, who took over from her father as head of the party in January, sat down with FRANCE 24 journalist Roselyne Fèbvre for an interview covering a wide range of domestic and international issues. Here are some of the highlights.
President Nicolas Sarkozy
"France is collapsing because of a French president who is no longer running anything, who is governing on impulse or emotion, depending on the circumstances. And France’s interests and image have suffered for it."
Earthquake in Japan
"I want to express my admiration for the remarkable calm and courage of the Japanese people. We have lessons to learn from them, and from how Japan prepared its population for this kind of disaster. France is very poorly prepared. We need to begin a campaign of information and education, and to create a national guard composed of civilians that could intervene in the event of a natural catastrophe."
Nuclear power
"For years, environmentalists have been opposed to any investment in nuclear energy, even though these investments were intended to modernise French power stations. Of course we should research other energy sources. But to say today that we should be reducing nuclear energy production seems completely absurd to me."
Libya
"Entering a war in Libya while we’re already ensnared in one in Afghanistan, and while Iraq is far from stable, is a very bad choice. The responsibility of a French president is to first consider the interests and welfare of the French population and of France. Public opinion in Arab countries would turn against us if we intervened. Why is it always up the European Union to intervene militarily, to accommodate the refugees? It seems logical to me that Libya’s neighbours would help manage this kind of regional problem."
The euro
"Incontestably, the Euro has not demonstrated its viability in terms of stimulating growth and prosperity and reducing unemployment for the people of Europe. On the contrary, it has contributed to the long-term weakening of our economies. If we return to a national currency, we can once again have the central bank of France issuing loans to the Treasury without interest. That would enable us to get out of this spiral of debt in which we’ve been living for several years."
Presidential elections and polls
"I was not surprised to see polls that showed me advancing to the second round of voting. Those numbers encourage me to keep working and talking about my policy proposals. There are still a lot of French people who have a totally caricatured vision of the National Front. We have solutions on research and education, not only on immigration and national security. I want to tell French people to give themselves a real choice for the second round vote. Sarkozy versus Strauss-Kahn are twins. They have the same policy ideas. I’m offering a real alternative."
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
"He is very representative of everything I fight against. The policies he has implemented as head of the International Monetary Fund have crushed people all over the world, causing catastrophic social consequences."
Immigration
"We need to have a moratorium on immigration. There are certain sectors of activity which require immigration because the immigrants have skills that we lack. But beyond that, we can’t afford any more. Immigration is weighing on our deficit on our system of social protection. We have 5 million unemployed people in France. What are we going to do, import more unemployed people? That’s crazy."





























Comments (58)
i agree with her in many ways
but i want to know her answer what are African's supposed to do there is no work in Africa there starving there there needs to be more international investments in Africa.fix that problem you will not have mass migration and what about all the French in our country do we deport them as you want to do to African's Asians EXT as for the Euro yes it was a big mistake why do you think we in the UK did not accept it.
social protection
first at all France don't import unemployed people!!!, nobody does, what WAS the idea joining EU?, get the best of all other countries (like Germany) and give nothing for it? come on...
far-right?
What the hell was far-right or extreme about any of the common sense statements made? Perhaps the author meant far-correct and something was lost in translation?
I have worked in France as
I have worked in France as throughout Europe, live in Germany and find the consistent remarks "right" and "far right" meaningless. National socialism and Italian Fascism as well as Soviet Socialism were opnely socialist, each about excessive government power and placing unsustainable burdens on their own productive citizens, making them poorer. The social welfare state is collapsing while non-European immigration wants to further burden Europeans. To press back against this is not "far right" but correct. France 24 needs to think that it might be replaced by Al Jazeera if it does not editorialize for a stronger, less burdened France. The risks are not from any "far right" but from massive debt brought by socialism, dependency on government, and immigrants who want to create an Islamic France. Think this through. There is no "far right" which threatens France, but there has always been a socialism which threatened France, and certainly a militant Islam which threatens France. Given such threats, Le Pen is more French than any of her opponents in the moment. Vive la republique!
Inevitable Shift
It is inevitable that the right will gain power because the politicians have not dealt with problems in a reasonable way. The game that liberal media and liberal politicians have played is coming to an end.
This says it all: "If we
This says it all:
"If we return to a national currency, we can once again have the central bank of France issuing loans to the Treasury without interest."
Problem - A lot of current obligations are in Euros and cannot legally be changed. Going back to Francs will be a disaster as there will be tremendous obligations that France cannot pay. A better solution will be for the EU Federal Government to become fully soverign, and for the EU to take over the most important and expensive functions of the current State governments. Functions like defence, diplomacy, bank supervision, deposit insurance, social security, welfare, and socialized medicine should be EU Federal functions, and paid for with federal taxes and federal debt.
political comments
Our countries seem be going down the same distructive roads. What a shame. We need more leaders like you. I pray you will be elected.Now we as Americans have to defeat Obama.
Le Pen
She is in sharp disagreement with Sarkozy on Libya and her anti war stand and not taking sides in a civil war may help her with voters.
Cel
Thank God it looks like
Thank God it looks like France may have a real leader after all! I hope the citizens of this once elated country take Le Pen to heart and put her in charge!! She is right on nearly everything and if France is to avoid falling into a total collapse, it needs to listen to her and elect her! Hopefully our own Albatross and ball and chain, Barack Obama will be a one term president as well!
France collapsing/
As an American I've been Beat on by Obama his ultra soicialist Healthcare and a whole of radio announcers have saud this was the best of all time Healthcare. Looking at a collapsing country make me wonder if America is ready for this.
France
France and all other Socialist democracies are collapsing becuase of 60 years of Socialism, which is unsustainable. It is not Sarkozy's fault-it is the policy of rewarding failure and mediocrity and punishing success- by wealth re-distribution from the productive to the non-productive. Socialism and Communism have failed everywhere they have been implemented-when will Europe ever learn????
If the French don't elect her
If the French don't elect her we in America sure could use someone with some back bone. We would be glad to trade you Hussey Obama !
France would rise up with that program
I do not know Mrs. Pen. Her statements are very very correct and good, i give her a grade of 2 (1 is best 6 ist worst). In detail:
Nuclear Power: 6 (maby she wakes up in the coming months)
Lybia: 1
Euro: 1+
Strauss-Kahn: 1+
Immigration: 1
She is really hitting on the most vital points, France would rise up with that program.
Seb., Economist M.A. 1985
Sheesh
It seems sad to me that the media world wide sees anything that is not Socialist or Marxist as being 'Far Right'. This should show exactly what the LONG TERM media agenda really is.
Le Pen says
Well, she sounds just like Sarah palin and shares many of the same views. I just hope the people of France see her for what she is and believes in, I think she'd give some of those French 'girly men' a real run for their money.
Marine Le Pen
"If we return to a national currency, we can once again have the central bank of France issuing loans to the Treasury without interest. That would enable us to get out of this spiral of debt in which we’ve been living for several years."
What planet is this person on?? I was on board with her until this goofy statement, which shows she knows nothing about monetary policy and how it impacts inflation. Has she never heard of the Weimar Republic? That's what happens when central banks monetize debt as she proposes. No, it would be far better if the populace would learn to live within their means, rather than seeking "painless" avenues of debt to prop up a tired old socialist government.
Marine Le Pen Candidacy
I am impressed with what I have read about this candidate. We applaude any politician who expresses their plans so clearly. I am a tad surprised that she believes public opinion of France involvement in Libia by Arab nations would turn against France.
We in the US are very familiar with that kind of reaction in any country we attempt to help! Am somewhat disappointed in the 'foot dragging' of our politicians in moving the US into helping the Libian rebels, but as a retired military person who fought in several wars as a pilot, I might be considered a bit biased to reach out to the underdog with a dangerous supresssive leader trying to eliminate them.
Wow! She makes Sense!!!
Totally incredible. She is French?! Her statements are intellignet, are in touch with reality and they make sense. Are you sure she is French? I was hoping she was American and would help save this country by running for office here in the U.S.A.
Le Pen
I agree everything she has to say! Let's get her over here to run in 2012. She' win by a landslide.
France,England and Germany
France,England and Germany are acting to stop the invasion and balkanization of their countries by immigration anarchy! In the USA some cities have already been overwhelmed and are bankrupt dystopias in continued decline.
Raspail's "Camp of the Saints" may very well be on the horizon unless the failure of "multiculturalism" is fully reccognized
I agree
I agree with everything Ms. Marine Le Pen has said in this article. I agree strongly that France must move away from the euro, and return to its' national currency. The euro will only continue to dig France into a deeper financial hole. I believe all European countries should return to their national currency and focus on what is best for their country and not "one shoe fits all" type of thinking.
Le Pen is mostly correct.
I agree about immigration. France is for French people. If you don't love French culture, get out.
I agree France should get off the Euro, but instead of a French central bank, they should go back to the gold standard. That is the only thing I disagree with that she said.
I don't like France24 calling her "far right". Since when is supporting France and French culture "far right"?!
Le Pen
There is a La Pen in america too. Called Sarah Palin
Le Pen is mostly correct.
Why is she described as 'far right'?
I agree 100% with her on Immigration. People who immigrate to France should be French who love French culture and no other. The quasi-French people who want to live in an Islamic state should be the ones who move OUT of France.
I agree about the return to the French Frank but not so much with a central bank. Better for France to return to the gold standard.
She's correct about Libya and nuclear power.
Le Pen
Why do you all want to impor Le Main? You Have one of your own! She is called Sarah Palin.
I dig her
Really like her. Glad to see we still have voices like her in this obfuscated world.
Marine Le Pen
1. Sarkozy is the first french Pres that I can remember who has the courage to do the tough work in spite of the oppositional critique, unlike Obama, and funny he's gotten things done that she probably never would.
2. Japan prepared its population for this kind of disaster?
what is she talking about, read the news, the Japanese Govt doesn't have a clue, they don't even give accurate info to their
citizens, compliment the people themselves on how they have managed in spite of their Govt's incompetence.
3. Her take on Libya half agreed, but if you allow a civil war to get started guess what will happen, exodus EU, which contradicts her anti immigration stance.
4. Agreed, you cannot let Brussels dictate monetary policy for 27 countries, it's ludicrous, plus you make foreign investment easier and can boost your own economies, the franc was a good currency.
5. the only poll that has any relevance is the voting poll.
6. agreed, the IMF and the World Bank should both be disbanded.
7. Easier said than done, the problem with this policy is all those former French colonies and their inhabitants, maybe a better solution would be to better integrate these folks once they arrive in Le France, i.e.,language, culture, history, customs etc., after the philosophy, be a welcomed guest and play by the rules, if not then don't come in the first place.
We could use her!
If France doesn't want her, send her to the USA. I'd vote for her on her immigration stance. There is the problem of her not being born here but that, apparently, isn't a problem now.
Islam says they will control
Islam says they will control France, by 2050, that is why they
wear the TShirts that say,,,"2050",,get with the program france,
do not give in, do not give up,,do not let Islamic crazies
take over your country.
Yup, France needs to withdraw
Yup, France needs to withdraw from the EU and print its' own money by the basketful.
It is called," I'll show me".
Ask Le Pen how she would "fix" immigration besides pointing it out as an issue.
LePen
Yes! We absolutely need another incompetent liberal running your country! BY all means, put her in office! Then you can look at her the way we are looking at Obama and say Whaaaaaat the heck happened to our country!!! Join in the misery... socialism/communism is just great! It destroys and enslaves everyone except the leaders! Vote her in. You can use my vote... vote illegally... that's what liberals do!
France's Immigrant Problem
As an American Conservative, I have tremendous respect for Le Pen. She issues forth logical answers to the problems of energy, finance, the social welfare state and Islamic immigration. France, like the U.S. has been on a downward trajectory for at least the last 20 years and unless she returns your great nation to its former glory as leader of Europe (not the E.U.), the problems you currently have will exacerbate and lead to your downfall. We are also headed in the wrong direction and must change our direction and philosophy of governance before it's too late.
Bonne Chance!!
She hardly sounds
She hardly sounds "far-right". Quite reasonable actually. Why must the Media label anyone who does not tow the nutty Left line as being "far-right"?
Zarkozy, France and the Far Left
You see where you are. the American Landscape sees it too. In France the Leftist Healthcare is failing as well as the central government. The American Contininent suffers for the same reason. This American President what else can you say.
Why can't she be president of the USA
Why can't she be president of the USA?
She gets it!
She gets it! Ms Le Pen has identified the key areas that are destroying France, and has defined them very well. My wishes are for the French to listen closely what she says, and support her.
Nationalism is NOT a bad thing, particularly if a resurgence of it saves the sovereignty of France and the essence of what it is to be French.
Kick socialism out the door, and anyone who has come to France for a free ride. If you don't, you will soon fade into history. Think not? Watch what a socialist/communist president and his corrupt bunch of socialist are doing to the United States.
One day, it may be France that hosts the Statue of Liberty....
What exactly is the far right there?
I don't see what exactly is "far right" there. To think this is "far right" is possible only if you brain-dead (or socialist which is the same). But the socialism can exist only through deception and brain-washing.
she's got NO chance of winning
this is why: "Incontestably, the Euro has not demonstrated its viability in terms of stimulating growth and prosperity and reducing unemployment for the people of Europe. On the contrary, it has contributed to the long-term weakening of our economies. If we return to a national currency, we can once again have the central bank of France issuing loans to the Treasury without interest. That would enable us to get out of this spiral of debt in which we’ve been living for several years."
she will NOT win.
Le Pen
What is so "far right" about her. Everything in this interview is just plain common sense. Is commons sense now considered "far right" in Europe?
Can this woman be recruited
Can this woman be recruited to run for President of the United States?
Citizenship would not be a problem - our current President was born in Kenya.
crime
Stop white on white crime; that is at least a start.
"Why is it always up to the
"Why is it always up to the EU to intervene militarily" - you're kidding right? GOod luck with this one France!
Marine Le Pen
She's Amazing! This woman is so basic, so strong, so smart! She's not only what France and her Great People need, she is what The Great People of the United States need!
The left, my child-like former political position, has flubbed , flopped, wrecked, and undermined all of The West's economies, our schools, our MSM, our savings, our governments. As a teacher in California, I say, "No votes for liberals or socialists (Democrats in the U.S.) for the next thirty years, if we want to survive!".
Liberals in California have destroyed what once was "The Golden State". They've killed the Goose that Lays The Golden Eggs! NO longer is California the 5th greatest economy on earth! We are crash-landing due to liberals' lies and deceit.
The adverse results of
The adverse results of inbreeding before your eyes.
What is moderate or extreme?
For those of you who think MLP is centre-right or just trying to sound moderate, or are alarmed because you think she is Far Right and pretending to be moderate, etc....
Look at what she is really saying..."have the central bank of France issuing loans to the Treasury without interest", "Entering a war in Libya while we’re already ensnared in one in Afghanistan, and while Iraq is far from stable, is a very bad choice"...
What does it matter if you call this centre-right or far-right? It sounds like Gaullism or old-school (pre-60s) social democracy to me. Does that make it moderate? That isn't the point. The point is it is called extremist because it is against the financial and imperialist interests that control most Western governments. Her platform is more pro-peace and anti-poverty than the parties favourably covered in the media. This is precisely why she is deemed an extremist!
If you think it is more moderate to have private central banksters rob your countries and force you to privatise your enterprises (where their subsidiaries will buy them), if you find it prudent to declare war on whomever you feel like, then you will destroy your country.
Marine Le Pen is France savior!
Marine Le Pen is exactly what France needs! What change can you possibly expect from the socialists or Sarkozy? Only Marine Le Pen and the NF would have the guts to change what business as usual in France. Frenchmen, how long can you be able to remain silence to watch you country goes down the drain?
Common sense
A national leader that uses common sense and puts the welfare of indigenous people first? That is rare.
and it is impossible to deliver the paradise with this economy
impossible, while we have everything to live in the paradise
we already work 70% waste working
and you have to ask yourself how to employ more i mean do you get this joke? how is this even fucking possible that no one get where the problem is including millions of scientists did anyone finish elementary school mathematics?
and of course there are unemployed
BECAUSE IT IS FIXED WORKING RATE PER HUMAN THATS WHY WHICH IS THE DUMBEST INVENTION OF ALL TIME
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