LePen Says She Qualifies to Enter French Presidential Race

Posted March 13th, 2012 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
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Far-right French political leader Marine Le Pen says she has won enough official support to become a candidate in next month's presidential election.

Le Pen says she has gotten the required backing of 500 elected French officials.

Le Pen heads the ultra-conservative National Front party, known for its fierce anti-immigration policies. The party has recently backed-away from its harsh rhetoric, targeting foreigners, to focus on the euro and the economy. Penn's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, was a far-right French leader for decades.

The latest polls show Le Pen far behind Socialist Francois Hollande, who leads incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.