From a young age Marine Le Pen was drawn to politics. Her father Jean-Marie Le Pen was the leader and co-founder of the far-right party the National Front (NF), which she joined as a young adult. After rising through the ranks to take leadership of the party Jean-Marie Le Pen’s third daughter made progressive gains in three presidential elections, turning the renamed National Rally (NR) into a powerful opposition force in France’s parliament. As France gears up for the 2027 presidential election Le Pen still has her eyes on the top job, despite a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds to pay her party’s employees that will rule her out of the race if judges reject her appeal on Tuesday. Read moreMarine Le Pen appeal verdict: Will the far-right leader be barred from the French presidency? FRANCE 24 looks back at the key moments in Le Pen’s political career. 1986: Le Pen joins the National Front Le Pen joined the far-right party, founded by her father 14 years earlier, at age 18. While studying law she also spent time with members of the far-right splinter group Groupe Union Défense, including Frédéric Chatillon, who she remains close with today.
Jean-Marie Le Pen poses with his daughters Yann, Marie-Caroline and Marine at his home in Saint-Cloud on January 28, 1988. © Derrick Ceyrac, AFP
