Candidate comparison
Le Pen vs Zemmour: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour on the 46 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Le Pen and Zemmour differ?
Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National) and Éric Zemmour (Reconquête) take the same side on the vast majority of test statements where both have a sourced position. Both back a referendum on immigration, abolishing birthright citizenship and giving French citizens priority for social housing and jobs, and both oppose giving legal status to undocumented workers who have a job. They want to build new nuclear reactors, stop developing wind power and scrap low-emission zones; they also want French law to take precedence over European law and France to leave NATO’s integrated command, and both oppose leaving the European Union. They disagree on pensions, tax and unemployment benefits: Le Pen wants the legal retirement age to go back to 62 or lower, which Zemmour rejects, as he favours raising it to 65; she supports bringing back a wealth tax, which he opposes, and she opposes paying unemployment benefits for a shorter time, which he supports.
This summary is based on the candidates’ documented positions on the test statements; the source of each position is on each candidate’s page. Updated 19/10/2026.
Differences
Where they clash most
Pensions
The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower.
Pensions
The legal retirement age should rise to 65.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy, taxes and debt
There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros.
Both: Against
Work and cost of living
The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions.
Both: Against
Health
The State should be able to require doctors to set up practice in areas that lack them.
Both: Against
Health
Funding for public hospitals should be greatly increased, even if it costs the State more.
Both: In favour
Immigration
There should be a referendum on immigration.
Both: Strongly in favour
Immigration
Birthright citizenship (“droit du sol”) should be abolished.
Both: Strongly in favour
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy, taxes and debt 69 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros. | Against | Against |
| To reduce the deficit, public spending should be cut first, rather than raising taxes. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| The number of public servants should be reduced. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| A wealth tax should be brought back. | In favour | Against |
Pensions 44 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| The legal retirement age should rise to 65. | Strongly against | In favour |
| Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar). | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| All pensions should rise at least in line with inflation. | In favour | In between |
Work and cost of living 75 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions. | Against | Against |
| The legal working week should stay at 35 hours. | In favour | In between |
| VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work. | Against | In favour |
| Rent controls should apply in all large cities. | In between | Against |
Health 100 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| The State should be able to require doctors to set up practice in areas that lack them. | Against | Against |
| Funding for public hospitals should be greatly increased, even if it costs the State more. | In favour | In favour |
Immigration 96 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a referendum on immigration. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Birthright citizenship (“droit du sol”) should be abolished. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Undocumented workers who have a job should be given legal status. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Social housing and jobs should go to French citizens first. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Undocumented migrants should keep access to State medical aid (AME). | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Family reunification should be suspended. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
Security and justice 94 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| Police officers and gendarmes should be presumed to have acted in self-defence. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Judges should have to give repeat offenders mandatory minimum sentences. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| The sale of cannabis should be legalised and regulated. | Against | Against |
| Rubber-bullet launchers (LBD) and grenades should be banned at demonstrations. | Against | Against |
Education and youth 92 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| Social media should be banned for children under 15. | In between | In between |
| School uniform should be compulsory in primary and lower secondary school. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Parcoursup should be scrapped. | Against | Against |
Energy, climate and farming 100 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| France should build new nuclear reactors. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Wind power should continue to be developed. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Low-emission zones (ZFE) in large cities should be scrapped. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Glyphosate and neonicotinoids should be banned. | Against | Against |
Europe 100 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| French law should take precedence over European law. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| The European Union should take more decisions by majority, without a veto for each country. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| France should leave the European Union. | Against | Against |
Foreign affairs and defence 90 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| France should continue to give military aid to Ukraine. | In between | Against |
| France should leave NATO’s integrated military command. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| France should offer to extend its nuclear deterrent to its European partners. | Against | Strongly against |
| There should be compulsory national service for all young people. | Against | Against |
| France should increase its military spending. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Institutions and democracy 67 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the National Assembly should be elected by proportional representation. | Strongly in favour | In between |
| There should be a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC). | Strongly in favour | In between |
| A constituent assembly should be called to create a Sixth Republic. | Against | Against |
Society, secularism and regions 83 %
| Question | Le Pen | Zemmour |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 law allowing assisted dying should be kept. | Against | Strongly against |
| Corsica should be able to make its own rules in some areas. | Against | Against |
| Girls under 18 should not be allowed to wear the headscarf in public spaces. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
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