Macron's party sues Le Pen for using "Renaissance" in campaign slogan

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PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron’s party is suing far-right National Rally presidential candidate Marine Le Pen for allegedly using its name in a campaign slogan.

The party, Renaissance, said that Le Pen’s slogan — “For France, the Renaissance” — amounted to an “unauthorized appropriation of its political identity and trademarks.”

Le Pen formally launched her presidential bid last week after a court cleared her to run despite being found guilty of embezzling funds from the European Parliament — a charge she continues to deny and has appealed to France’s highest court.

The far-right leader, who was her party’s candidate in the last three presidential campaigns, unveiled a poster and a website featuring the new slogan.

“Our ‘Renaissance’ identity, which has defined our political movement in France and Europe since 2019, cannot be misappropriated for the sole purpose of creating confusion among voters,” Macron’s party said in a statement.

Renaissance’s current leader is former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who has also announced his candidacy in next year’s presidential election.

The first round of France’s presidential election will take place on April 18, 2027, with Le Pen comfortably leading the race in the first round, according to recent polls .

“Beyond the legal issue, this action undermines who we are,” Macron’s party said. “Renaissance champions a humanist, European and republican vision, grounded in the defense of the rule of law, democracy and respect for our shared principles.”

Asked last week about the similarity between the two names, Le Pen denied any connection and told reporters that the slogan had been chosen because “the meaning of [her] campaign is to work for the renaissance” of France’s institutions.