Le Pen Insists France Give Political Asylum to Julian Assange

National Front Party president Marine Le Pen has reiterated her insistence that France provide asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

On Monday, Assange gave an exclusive interview for French digital channel i>Tele, where he talked about various subjects including mass surveillance, French anti-terrorism laws and President Francois Hollande's ostensible political weaknesses.

Commenting on the interview in her official blog, in a post titled ‘Merci Julian Assange’ [Thank you Julian Assange] on Wednesday, Le Pen noted that Assange had once again provided a very "lucid analysis on the reasons for our strategic weaknesses, particularly in connection with our submission to the European Union, and thus to the United States."

Noting that it was perfectly clear why Francois Hollande has refused to provide Assange with asylum, Le Pen wrote that nevertheless "I ask once again that France honors him by offering asylum."

Last July, the French government officially rejected an asylum request from the WikiLeaks founder.

Assange has been stuck in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, unable to leave for fear of being arrested and extradited to Sweden, and ultimately to the United States, where he could face espionage charges for publishing secret US government documents through his website.