the National Front, now the National Rally, celebrates its 50th anniversary

In November 1972, the National Front (FN) was born, on the initiative of the neo-fascist movement Ordre nouveau and with some figures of the collaboration. Its president was then Jean-Marie Le Pen. “I was already one of those French people who were waiting for another political offer, who defend French identity”, explains Bruno Gollnisch, former vice-president of the National Front. In 1986, about thirty deputies entered the National Assembly thanks to the proportional system.

The FN relies on an assumed xenophobic rhetoric. Jean-Marie Le Pen became the leader of the extreme right and held the party for 40 years. During this period, he was condemned for his negationist remarks. Over time, the FN made a place for itself in the electoral landscape. On April 21, 2002, Jean-Marie Le Pen arrived in the second round of the presidential election, facing Jacques Chirac. Marine Le Pen then became president of the party and changed its name to Rassemblement national.