FRENCH ELECTION: Marine Le Pen reveals her choice for prime minister ahead of second vote
MARINE Le Pen has named her pick for prime minister as the presidential candidate hopes to see off rival Emmanuel Macron in the crunch vote next month.
Ms Le Pen has named Nicolas Dupont-Aignan as her pick for prime minister, who also ran for the top job but was knocked out of the elections in the first round.
She selected Mr Dupont-Aignan in a bid to attract more support ahead of the second round of voting on May 7.
The former candidate endorsed Ms Le Pen in a TV interview, saying: “I will vote Marine Le Pen and I will support her.”
His stance is in stark contrast to just a few years ago, when he was quoted in 2014 saying: “Do you want to entrust France to the Le Pen family? No.”
And in September he critiqued his then-rival, saying “we do not come from the same political family” as the FN.
Now named as her prime minister, is thought the pair signed an agreement on the possible future government, with Ms Le Pen incorporating some of his policies into her election platform.
Announcing her choice, Ms Le Pen said: “We will form a government of national unity that brings together people chosen for their competence and their love of France.”
Mr Dupont-Aignan, who got 4.7 per cent of the vote, is a fellow nationalist and is also wary of the EU.
Former French Minister: Fillon voters will back Marine Le Pen
He wants to reduce Brussels’ power and that of its institutions, and they both wish to leave the euro and return to the franc.
Ms Le Pen hopes with him by her side she will pick up more votes from the mainstream right, but the move could see her risk alienating the left where she needs to secure support if she is to topple favourite Mr Macron.
Do you want to entrust France to the Le Pen family? No
In a bid to make herself more electable, she temporarily stood down as leader of the far-right Front National (FN) party, and has rebranded herself with the new motto ‘Choose France’.
Polls indicate Mr Macron will ultimately win the presidency with roughly 60 per cent of the vote, unless Ms Le Pen can turn the tide.
The two remaining candidates accounted for 45 per cent of the vote, with both now trying to convince the remaining 55 per cent to back them instead.
Ms Le Pen went through to the second round with 21.3 per cent of the vote compared to Mr Macron’s 24.01 per cent.