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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Matt Payton

Marine Le Pen could win presidential election in 2017, French PM admits

France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said far-right leader Marine Le Pen had a chance at winning next year's presidential election, boosted by the momentum of Donald Trump's shock win in the United States.

While attending a Berlin economic conference, Mr Valls said "It's possible,"  the populist candidate of France's anti-immigration National Front could win.

Le Pen is widely tipped to reach the second round of the election on May 7, where she would face either a candidate of the left or the right.

Warning of "the danger presented by the extreme right", Valls said: "This means that the balance of politics will change completely."

Mr Valls stressed the difference between Trump and Le Pen that despite his "worrying" speeches and proposals - the US President-elect is the head of a mainstream party.

Marine Le Pen has been leader of the French National Front since 2011 when she succeeded her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party's founder.

Speaking to Andrew Marr, Ms Le Pen said: "He [Donald Trump] made possible what had previously been presented as impossible.

“So it’s really the victory of the people against the elites.”

“If I can draw a parallel with France, then yes, I wish that in France also the people upend the table, around which the elites are dividing up what should go to the French people."

She claimed if she became French President - Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and herself make a lot of progress towards "world peace".

Ms Le Pen has attempted to soften his image and broaden her appeal - the party's name did not figure on the poster nor did the trademark flame logo or even her family name.

Her daughter Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, who is also am member of the French parliament, has been described by Donald Trump's chief White House strategist Steve Bannon as a "rising star".

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