Marine Le Pen's niece tells Trump supporters: We want our country back too
Marine Le Pen's niece has echoed Donald Trump as she called for a “France first” agenda and told US right-wingers: “Just like you, we want our country back.”
Marion Maréchal-Le Pen cited Mr Trump’s election victory and the Brexit vote in 2016 as inspiration for France to distance itself from the European Union (EU).
She used an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday to praise the US president’s success in putting conservatism at the top of the political agenda.
And she claimed the French youth is right-leaning and believers in national identity as she issued a call to arms for the populist revolution.
“Let me be clear here. I’m not offended when I hear President Donald Trump say ‘America first’,” Ms Le Pen said.
“In fact, I want America first for the American people, I want Britain first for the British people and I want France first for the French people."
Ms Le Pen, a 28-year-old National Front politician whose aunt led the party in last year’s election, had faced controversy over her appearance from the US media given her hardline views.
Taking to the stage, she joked away the row, saying she was “less terrifying” than the US newspapers had portrayed.
In a 10-minute speech which saw mentions of the EU booed by the right-wing crowd, Ms Le Pen suggested she wanted to repeat in France what Mr Trump had achieved in America.
“Just like you, we want our country back. I came here to tell you that there is a youth ready for this fight in Europe today,” she said.
“A youth who believes in hard work, who believe the flag means something, who want to preserve individual freedom and private property.”
Ms Le Pen repeatedly criticised the EU for “slowly killing” nation states and warned over the impact of “political correctness” and “massive immigration” in France.
“The last two years have shown one thing: Never underestimate the people,” she said.
Ms Le Pen continued:“When the people are given the opportunity to take their country back, they will seize it.
“Through your actions and your talents, you have succeeded in putting conservatism right back to the top of the political agenda.
“Let us build on what you have achieved here so that both sides on the Atlantic a conservative agenda will remain.”
