Le Pen sees polls boost amid mass protests, riots

AI Summary

Marine Le Pen is preparing to launch her presidential campaign at a National Rally congress in Orléans. A recent poll after mass protests and riots puts her ahead in the first round, with Jean-Luc Mélenchon identified as her likeliest opponent in a runoff.

Marine Le Pen is set to officially launch her presidential campaign this weekend at the National Rally two-day party congress in Orléans. The latest Ifop poll, carried out in the wake of the mass protests and riots in France, suggests the far right leader would win the first round of the presidential election by a wide margin, and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon emerged as her most likely opponent in the runoff. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.