TOULON, France – Marine Le Pen, president of the Rassemblement National (RN), called on supporters Saturday to actively recruit members ahead of the first round of municipal elections, making a key campaign stop in Toulon, a city the RN hopes to capture.
Addressing supporters in the Var department, Le Pen urged them to “grow recruiters,” according to France24. The visit, reported by Nice Matin and France Bleu, is part of a concentrated effort to bolster the party’s chances in the upcoming elections, scheduled for March. Le Pen’s presence underscores the strategic importance of the Var, which currently holds seven of the eight RN deputies in the National Assembly.
The focus of Le Pen’s visit was Toulon, where Laure Lavalette, the RN’s spokesperson in the National Assembly, is running for mayor. Lavalette is currently polling as a frontrunner in the first round, according to reports. Le Pen began her day with a descent via the cable car from Mont Faron, offering a panoramic view of the Toulon harbor, before attending a local meeting in the Claret district with Lavalette.
The campaign stop comes as Le Pen awaits a July 7th appeal hearing related to a case involving the employ of parliamentary assistants. Despite this ongoing legal matter, she reiterated her call for widespread mobilization in support of the RN’s municipal candidates during a BFMTV appearance on Wednesday.
Beyond Toulon, Le Pen’s schedule included a roundtable discussion on security in La Valette-du-Var, in collaboration with the “Voisins Vigilants et Solidaires” (Neighbors Vigilant and United) organization, and a press conference in La Garde. The security focus reflects a key theme of the RN’s platform, and the engagement with local security groups aims to demonstrate the party’s commitment to addressing citizen concerns.
The visit marks Le Pen’s return to the Var since October 2023, when she participated in events recognizing caregivers. The RN is hoping to capitalize on its existing strength in the department to craft significant gains in the municipal elections, with Toulon representing a particularly important target.
