Marine Le Pen to deliver first campaign speech before election in six months as cost-of-living protests turn violent and surveys put her ahead

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is due to give her first campaign speech on Sunday as she seeks to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in an election scheduled in six months. Surveys place her at the front of the race, and she appears to be gaining support amid weeks of political upheaval marked by mass rallies and violent clashes.

More than 400,000 people marched in major French cities on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living. Clashes broke out after groups of masked demonstrators left the main rallies.

Police also set up checkpoints around the city of Orleans to protect a congress being held by the far-right party.