A certain legend surrounds the Le Pen family – that of a political dynasty that never wins outright but always finds itself revived by a stroke of fate or by adversaries whose mediocrity allows it to survive. Marine Le Pen, however, prefers to say that "reality proves [her] right" and sees herself as the architect of her own destiny. After all, to benefit so much from the failures of others requires a keen sense of political timing and a particular skill set. The far-right Rassemblement National (RN) leader has long dreamed of a dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale without being seen as the troublemaker, a wish that has never seemed so close to coming true.

As fall begins, the far right appears poised to seize power, with RN president Jordan Bardella playing a supporting role in the current political turmoil yet emerging more than ever as a contender for the prime minister's office. For Le Pen, this prospect is especially gratifying: A victory by her party now seems the surest path to restoring her eligibility for future elections, which she recently lost after being convicted in connection with the misuse of European Parliament funds.

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