Le Pen niece quits party

FAILED French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen, a National Front member of parliament, has decided not to stand for re-election in next month’s legislative elections, a move that lays bare the divisions in the party.

The 27-year-old, one of only two National Front lawmakers in the outgoing parliament and a popular figure among the party faithful, said she would be leaving political life for a while for personal and political reasons.

“I am not giving up forever on this political battle,” she said.

Marechal-Le Pen, whom some in the party hope will eventually take over from her aunt as leader, is seen as decidedly more conservative on social and economic issues.