Le Pen 'trying to use these events to push her popularity', expert says

In the wake of the weekend's violence, the political camps have been trading blame for the “chaos”. The riots have played into the hands of the far-right National Rally - which has been quick to capitalise on the anger and fears over law and order. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Dr David Lees, Reader in French Studies at the University of Warwick, says that Marine Le Pen "is trying to use these events as a vehicle for pushing her popularity ahead of the elections next year".