Le Pen attacks Macron as France’s mainstream rallies behind him

Front National leader accuses centrist rival of being weak on terror as she temporarily steps aside as head of party

Far-right French presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen, has attacked her centrist rival Emmanuel Macron, suggesting he is a “hysterical, radical Europeanist” who is weak on jihadi terror.

Her tirade came as the country’s demoralised mainstream parties threw their weight behind her opponent on the first day of campaigning for the presidential runoff on 7 May.

Announcing she was stepping aside temporarily from the presidency of the Front National to be “above partisan considerations” and devote herself to the race for the Elysée, Le Pen said of Macron: “He is for total open borders. He says there is no such thing as French culture. There is not one area where he shows one ounce of patriotism.”

Le Pen finished second to the former investment banker in the first round vote on Sunday. In a symbolic gesture aimed at underlining the idea that the president of France should represent the whole country, not just their party, she told France 2 television she was now “no longer the president of the Front National. I am the candidate for the French presidency.”

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