France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen splits with AfD in the run-up to the presidential election
Marine Le Pen has ended her cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the European Parliament, a move that comes ahead of the first round of the French presidential election on April 10.
The decision was announced by Le Pen's party, the National Rally (RN), on Wednesday. In a statement, the RN said that the AfD had "evolved towards positions that are no longer compatible with our values." The RN did not provide any specific examples of the positions that it found objectionable.
The AfD is a far-right party that has been accused of racism and xenophobia. The party has also been criticized for its close ties to Russia.
Le Pen's decision to split with the AfD is seen as an attempt to distance herself from the party's more extreme elements. Le Pen is hoping to win over moderate voters in the upcoming election, and she is seeking to appeal to a broader range of voters than her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was known for his anti-immigration and anti-Semitic views.
The split with the AfD is the latest in a series of moves by Le Pen to moderate her image. In recent years, she has toned down her rhetoric on immigration and softened her stance on the European Union.
Le Pen is currently the frontrunner in the polls for the first round of the presidential election. However, she is expected to face a tough challenge from Emmanuel Macron, the incumbent president.
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