Le Pen

By turns funny and caustic, with a fine sense of oratory, Ms Le Pen's skill is to defend her ideas with principles that all voters share.

Ms Le Pen's ascension is all the more remarkable given the nature of the National Front.

The rising threat from the National Front's Marine Le Pen seems, at least for now, to have reached a plateau.

If voters suspected Mr Le Pen were a strong candidate, they would tend to rally round his leading opponent.

Le Pen told French radio Thursday that Strauss-Kahn's indictment definitely puts him out of the presidential race.

Jean-Marie Le Pen of France's Front National exclaims that he has "no hesitation" in going.

But the younger Le Pen has a way of defending extreme-right policies with a moderate tone.

In broadcast remarks, Le Pen said if the allegations proved true, Strauss-Kahn would be discredited.

Yet immigrant-bashing populism is only one source of Mr Le Pen's high ratings.

His supporters say he must tack right to lure voters from Mr Le Pen.

The arrest of Mr Strauss-Kahn could also strengthen Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front.

Mr Le Pen was thefirst to be presented with a guest book to sign.

His right-wing politics and persistent warnings about the rise of China have earned him the sobriquet "Japan's Jean-Marie Le Pen" .

Mr Sarkozy has slalomed between talk of liberal reforms and an authoritarian tone aimed at those who backed Mr Le Pen in 2002.

They demonstrated this in 2002 by putting the far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen into the second round, ahead of the Socialist candidate.

The priest handed sprigs with bright green leaves to Mr Le Pen, MrGollnisch and a senior member of Issuikai.

First three are Royal, HE Minister of the Interior and the National Front leader de Le Pen fees.

Ms Le Pen wants to withdraw France from the euro, and to re-erect border controls with neighbouring countries.

To their dismay, the voters had to choose between Mr Le Pen and the incumbent, Jacques Chirac, in the run-off.

Marine Le Pen and the National Front will do well in the upcoming French presidential election.

Yet there is a third force in politics, whose voice is less audible, but hardly less resonant: the far-right's Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Ms Le Pen cited the rise of Sarah Palin as an inspiration.

Opinion polls underplay Mr Le Pen's support; almost half of respondents say they are undecided .

But the revival of the National Front under Ms Le Pen looks all too real.

Marine Le Pen, new leader of France's Front National, embraces Jews.

In 2002 the surprise was unpleasant: the far right's Jean-Marie Le Pen beat the Socialist candidate in the first round.

Moreover, Mr Le Pen's poll numbers seem more solid than his rivals'.

Most socialist voters then backed Mr Chirac, who was re-elected with 82 per cent of votes. Mr Le Pen raised his support to only 18 per cent.

But the Socialists and Greens proposed a rule change to block Mr Le Pen.

This is a country, after all, where the far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the presidential run-off in 2002.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen also offered a reaction.

Even before Mr Strauss-Kahn's arrest Ms Le Pen was polling well.

The French voted for Mr Le Pen in part because they were fed up with the stale mainstream political class.

It's why the great winner - and it's a pity - is Mrs. Le Pen.

His equally fiery daughter, Marine Le Pen, won 22% in the north.

If they continue, Mr Le Pen will surely benefit.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, its thunderous 81-year-old leader, pulled in 23% in the south of France.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, thunderous 81 -year-old leader, pulledin23% in the south of France.

On "Jean-Marie Le Pen Phenomenon" -- European Far-Right Forces in Perspective