French election: Marine Le Pen stands down from National Front party

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen shocks France by announcing she is stepping down as leader of her party.

Ms Le Pen is still running for president on May 7, but is in the short term at least distancing herself from the National Front party (NF) founded by her father in 1972.

“I have always considered that the president of the republic is the president of all French people,” the 48-year-old told French television.

“Now is the moment to move from words to action and it is the reason why it seemed essential to me to take leave from the presidency of the National Front.”

The move is seen as an attempt by Ms Le Pen to broaden the appeal of her campaign beyond the far-right base of her party.

One opinion poll has the En Marche! candidate Emmanuel Macron ahead of his rival by 64-36, while another poll is sitting at 62-38.

Ms Le Pen has less than two weeks to turn those figures around.

Source: French election: Marine Le Pen stands down from National Front party ahead of May 7 vote – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)