They remained so under the leadership of Jean-Marie Le Pen, a paratrooper in Algeria, and his National Front (NF) from 1972. Jean-Marie Le Pen with his daughter Marine Le Pen in 2010 (Jacques Brinon/AP) (Jacques Brinon/AP)She said the party was “neither left nor right”. Marine Le Pen also appealed to people who feel their identity is threatened by immigration (especially by Muslims), and their Christian values debased by ‘woke’ left-wing government. Marine Le Pen is now odds-on favourite to win next year’s presidential election, despite being convicted of embezzling EU political funds. Barnier went on to say that Le Pen hasn’t changed her views; she has been clever to make more moderate statements.