Candidate comparison
Le Pen vs Dupont-Aignan: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Marine Le Pen and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan on the 46 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Le Pen and Dupont-Aignan differ?
Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National) and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (Debout la France), who backed her in the 2017 run-off, take the same side on the vast majority of test statements where both have a sourced position. Both want the legal retirement age to go back to 62 or lower, all pensions to rise at least in line with inflation and VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel to be cut. They back a referendum on immigration, abolishing birthright citizenship, a presumption of self-defence for police officers and gendarmes and compulsory school uniform, and both oppose giving legal status to undocumented workers and keeping State medical aid (AME). They want new nuclear reactors, no further wind power and the end of low-emission zones; they also support giving French law precedence over European law, leaving NATO’s integrated command and a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC). They differ on three points: Dupont-Aignan wants France to leave the European Union, which Le Pen rejects; Le Pen supports proportional representation for parliamentary elections, which Dupont-Aignan rejects; and Dupont-Aignan supports compulsory national service, which Le Pen rejects.
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
Institutions and democracy
Members of the National Assembly should be elected by proportional representation.
Europe
France should leave the European Union.
Foreign affairs and defence
There should be compulsory national service for all young people.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy, taxes and debt
The number of public servants should be reduced.
Both: In between
Economy, taxes and debt
A wealth tax should be brought back.
Both: In favour
Pensions
The legal retirement age should rise to 65.
Both: Strongly against
Pensions
Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar).
Both: In favour
Work and cost of living
The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions.
Both: Against
Work and cost of living
The legal working week should stay at 35 hours.
Both: In favour
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy, taxes and debt 88 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros. | Against | In between |
| To reduce the deficit, public spending should be cut first, rather than raising taxes. | In favour | In between |
| The number of public servants should be reduced. | In between | In between |
| A wealth tax should be brought back. | In favour | In favour |
Pensions 88 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The legal retirement age should rise to 65. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar). | In favour | In favour |
| All pensions should rise at least in line with inflation. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
Work and cost of living 85 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 favour |
| 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 between |
| Rent controls should apply in all large cities. | In between | Against |
Health 100 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 92 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | In between |
| Undocumented migrants should keep access to State medical aid (AME). | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Family reunification should be suspended. | In favour | In favour |
Security and justice 94 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | In favour |
| The sale of cannabis should be legalised and regulated. | Against | Strongly against |
| Rubber-bullet launchers (LBD) and grenades should be banned at demonstrations. | Against | Against |
Education and youth 100 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Strongly in favour |
| Parcoursup should be scrapped. | Against | Against |
Energy, climate and farming 94 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | In between |
Europe 75 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Strongly in favour |
Foreign affairs and defence 70 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| France should continue to give military aid to Ukraine. | In between | Strongly 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 | Strongly in favour |
| France should increase its military spending. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Institutions and democracy 67 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the National Assembly should be elected by proportional representation. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| There should be a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC). | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| A constituent assembly should be called to create a Sixth Republic. | Against | Against |
Society, secularism and regions 92 %
| Question | Le Pen | Dupont-Aignan |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 law allowing assisted dying should be kept. | Against | Against |
| Corsica should be able to make its own rules in some areas. | Against | Strongly against |
| Girls under 18 should not be allowed to wear the headscarf in public spaces. | In favour | In favour |
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