Far-right candidate Le Pen launches French presidential campaign

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right and the frontrunner in next year's French presidential election, officially launched her campaign on Sunday, pledging to restore order and trust across France.

As France faces one of its most turbulent periods in years, Le Pen presented herself as the best candidate to lead the country through what she described as mounting economic, social, and security crises.

Referring to her political rivals, she said, "We are not witnessing the end of the world, but the end of a world... their world."

Le Pen chose to deliver her first campaign speech in Orléans, the birthplace of Joan of Arc, the fifteenth-century warrior regarded by nationalists as a symbol of patriotism and sovereignty.

Addressing a cheering crowd of supporters, Le Pen promised a "zero tolerance" policy for the police, stating that restoring security is the state's foremost duty.

Mass protests over rising living costs and inequality earlier last week escalated into looting and vandalism.