Today’s PaperOn the Scene: At a Far Right Rally in FranceBy Constant MéheutApril 4 Constant Méheut📍 Reporting from Stiring-Wendel FranceOn the Scene: At a Far Right Rally in FranceConstant Méheut📍 Reporting from Stiring-Wendel FranceAndrea Mantovani for The New York TimesI went to a rally held by Marine Le Pen the far-right French presidential candidate who is rising in the polls FranceWith just days left before the election Le Pen has changed many of her far-right past positions and is ready to lead the country Le Pen and her family have long been at the center of French politics Her father founded the party she now leads which she has sought to strip of its vestiges of antisemitism and Holocaust denialism She is running for president for the third time France0:10The New York TimesIn her quest for credibility Le Pen has dropped a number of divisive proposals FranceAndrea Mantovani for The New York Times“Many people are afraid when they are told they will leave Europe,” said Kurt Mehlinger “We’re more comfortable with her current platform.” Le Pen has sought to sanitize her image throughout the campaign to project an air of credibility Many people I spoke to noticed a softening of rhetoric and tone in her campaign speeches Her campaign posters show her smiling against a deep blue background with a slogan reading “Stateswoman.” FranceAndrea Mantovani for The New York Times“She’s more relaxed compared to 2017,” Martine Bour Le Pen’s debate against then-candidate Emmanuel Macron FranceAndrea Mantovani for The New York Times“She has become much calmer FranceAndrea Mantovani for The New York TimesBut even as she softened her style when she vowed to expel foreigners who misbehaved Read more on Marine Le Pen’s campaign for president Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker