France, Le Pen Kicks Off Presidential Race: 'It's a Battle Against Decline'

Marine Le Pen has officially started her campaign for the French presidency. The National Rally leader chose Hénin-Beaumont, her long-standing political stronghold in northern France, to address supporters and outline the key themes of her presidential bid.

In her speech, Le Pen adopted a particularly assertive tone, framing the election as a crucial showdown for the nation's future.

'We must fight against the forces of decline, against these harmful forces that, if we do not prevail, could lead from decline to downfall,' she declared to the gathered supporters in Hénin-Beaumont.

The National Rally candidate stressed the need for change in France: 'It's time to stop the collapse.'

Central to her political message was also a call to national identity and the defense of the French way of life. 'For our culture, our way of living, our civilization, the presidential election is a battle we cannot afford to lose,' Le Pen added.

With her speech in her electoral stronghold, the RN leader launches a campaign aiming to present the presidential election as a decisive choice for France's identity and future, making the fight against what she terms the country's 'decline' a central pillar of her political agenda.