Marion Maréchal, a French politician known for her conservative views, has returned to the National Rally (RN), a far-right political party in France. She had previously left the party four years ago to support Éric Zemmour, a prominent conservative figure, but now appears to have reconnected with the RN. Despite her return, she does not hold an official position in Marine Le Pen's campaign, which is currently focused on the upcoming presidential election. The RN insists that the leadership duo of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella remains unchanged. However, media reports suggest that her return has created some tension within the party, particularly due to a recent controversy involving an exhibition on abortion. On the CNews television channel, Maréchal, who is also an elected member of the European Parliament, stated that she would participate in the campaign without seeking any formal title. This approach allows her to maintain a visible presence without being directly involved in the campaign's operations. The RN has attempted to minimize the significance of her return, with deputy Sébastien Chenu telling the newspaper 20 Minutes that "For now, Ms. Maréchal is neither leaving nor returning." Chenu emphasized that she would be one of several allies supporting the campaign, with her own unique contributions. He also reiterated that the main campaign ticket remains "Marine-Jordan," and that Maréchal is not even an official member of the RN. Despite the official statements of unity, media outlets have reported a more complex situation beneath the surface. According to Libération, Jordan Bardella reportedly said during a meeting in late August, "It's her or me," suggesting some internal conflict. Marine Le Pen, meanwhile, was reportedly considering bringing her niece back into the public eye. Bardella denied any conflict, stating he would support the candidate "at 2,000%." Le Monde described a tense atmosphere during a meeting when Maréchal's name was mentioned, noting that the room grew quiet. A planned public event to mark her return, scheduled for September, has been postponed. A supporter of Maréchal commented in a newspaper: "We are far from a grand return." Maréchal's political influence is undeniable, as she represents a divisive but effective stance that appeals to certain voter groups. Chenu acknowledged that she speaks to people who are "more liberal and more conservative than us," and that her return could help expand support for Marine Le Pen in the second round of the election without altering the party's core program. Edwige Diaz, another RN deputy, emphasized that the goal is to secure a majority in the election, stating, "When you want to govern, you need 50% of the votes plus one." The party's strategy seems to be to keep Bardella focused on party matters, Maréchal on her social issues, and Marine Le Pen as the central figure. On September 15, Maréchal attended the opening of an exhibition organized by Pro Vita & Famiglia, an Italian organization opposed to abortion. Bardella commented, "Does that surprise you? Me, no," a remark that did not seem to indicate a warm welcome. Chenu noted that Maréchal is "more conservative, socially," but clarified that she has no influence over the party's political direction. Reconquête, the party Maréchal left after the 2024 European elections, has not commented on her return but did make a pointed remark: "If Marion Maréchal brings the RN as much as she brought Reconquête, then we have nothing to fear." The RN continues to present Maréchal as an external ally, using a sports analogy to describe her role: "There is a team that plays, and in the fan zone, there are supporters." Maréchal has returned to the stadium, but how long she will remain in the stands remains to be seen.