Editing National Rally

{{Short description|French political party}}
{{Other uses|National Rally (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Front National||National Front (disambiguation){{!}}National Front}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = National Rally
| native_name      = Rassemblement national
| native_name_lang = fr
| logo             = Logo Rassemblement National.svg
| logo_size        = 275
| president        = [[Jordan Bardella]]
| leader2_title    = Parliamentary party leader
| leader2_name     = [[Marine Le Pen]] (National Assembly)
| leader1_title    = Vice Presidents
| leader1_name     = {{ubl|[[Louis Aliot]]|[[David Rachline]]|[[Hélène Laporte]]}}
| founders         = [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]],<ref>{{cite news |first1=Gabriel|last1=Gatehouse|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35003920 |title=Vive la difference – has France's Front National changed? |date=5 December 2015 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=17 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717051037/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35003920 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Pierre Bousquet]]<ref name="france-election-far-right-nazi-hunter-antisemitism">{{cite news |first=Sylvie |last=Corbet |title=Renowned Nazi hunter in France advises Jews to choose far right over far left in elections |url=https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-nazi-hunter-antisemitism-dbe220c915894f6aded6f3547c05aae0 |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703172743/https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-nazi-hunter-antisemitism-dbe220c915894f6aded6f3547c05aae0 |url-status=live |work=AP News |publisher=The Associated Press |date=3 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="rise-france-right">{{cite news |last1=Kirby |first1=Paul |title=The rise and rise of France's far right |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn087x77g1dt?post=asset%3A74817d7b-7a89-42c3-9d5b-7941ebfbf819#post |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=30 June 2024 |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708085233/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn087x77g1dt?post=asset%3A74817d7b-7a89-42c3-9d5b-7941ebfbf819#post |url-status=live}}</ref>
| founded          = {{start date and age|1972|10|05|df=y}}
| predecessor      = [[Ordre Nouveau (1960s)|Ordre Nouveau]]
| headquarters     = 114 bis rue Michel-Ange<br />[[16e arrondissement de Paris|75016]] [[Paris]]
| youth_wing       = [[Rassemblement national de la jeunesse]]
| abbreviation     = RN
| wing1_title      = Security wing
| wing1            = [[Department for Protection and Security]]
| membership       = 120,000 (claimed)<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.francetvinfo.fr/politique/front-national/le-rn-affirme-avoir-passe-la-barre-des-100-000-adherents_6640227.html | title= Le RN affirmé avoir 100,000 adhérents | date= 1 July 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/front-national/le-rn-revendique-20-000-adhesions-supplementaires-depuis-la-condamnation-de-marine-le-pen_AN-202504030856.html  | date= 4 April 2025  | title= Le RN revendique 20.000 adhésions supplémentaires depuis la condamnation de Marine le Pen }}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2025
| ideology         = {{ubl|class = nowrap
 | [[French nationalism]]<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite book |author=Jens Rydgren |title=Twenty-First Century Populism |pages=166–180 |chapter=France: The Front National, Ethnonationalism and Populism |publisher=Link.springer.com |doi=10.1057/9780230592100_11 |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-349-28476-4}}|{{cite news |title='The nation state is back': Front National's Marine Le Pen rides on global mood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/18/nation-state-marine-le-pen-global-mood-france-brexit-trump-front-national |work=The Guardian |date=18 September 2016}}|{{cite news |title=Marine Le Pen says sanctions on Russia are not working |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/11/03/marine-le-pen-says-sanctions-on-russia-are-not-working |newspaper=The Economist}}}}</ref>
 | [[Right-wing populism]]<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web |url=http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2014/04/21/depuis-2011-le-fn-est-devenu-protectionniste-au-sens-large_1001771 |title=Depuis 2011, le FN est devenu "protectionniste au sens large" |work=Liberation |date=21 April 2014 |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927204331/http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2014/04/21/depuis-2011-le-fn-est-devenu-protectionniste-au-sens-large_1001771 |url-status=live }}|{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/01/08/french-far-right-leader-seeks-to-reintroduce-death-penalty-after-charlie-hebdo-attack/ |title=French far-right leader seeks to reintroduce death penalty after Charlie Hebdo attack |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=8 January 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015 |first=Adam |last=Taylor |archive-date=7 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707005414/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/01/08/french-far-right-leader-seeks-to-reintroduce-death-penalty-after-charlie-hebdo-attack/ |url-status=live }}}}</ref>
}}
| position         = [[Far-right politics|Far-right]]{{cref|A}}<ref name="National Rally far-right" />
| national         = ''[[Rassemblement bleu Marine]]'' (2012–2017)
| european         = [[Patriots.eu]]
| europarl         = [[Patriots for Europe]]<br />(since 2024){{refn|group=nb|The party was formerly part of the [[European Right (1984–1989)|European Right]] (1984–1989), the [[European Right (1989–1994)|European Right]] (1989–1994), the [[Technical Group of Independents (1999–2001)|Technical Group of Independents]] (1999–2001), [[Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty]] (2007), [[Europe of Nations and Freedom]] (2015–2019) and [[Identity and Democracy]] (2019–2024).}}
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205150 -->
| seats1_title     = [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[Senate (France)|Senate]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house}}
| seats3_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats3           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats4_title     = [[President of the Regional Council (France)|Presidencies of Regional Councils]]
| seats4           = {{composition bar|0|17|{{party color|National Rally (France)}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Regional Council (France)|Regional Councillors]]
| seats5           = {{composition bar|242|1758|{{party color|National Rally (France)}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|Presidencies of Departmental Councils]]
| seats6           = {{composition bar|0|101|{{party color|National Rally (France)}}}}
| seats7_title     = [[Departmental Council (France)|Departmental Councillors]]
| seats7           = {{composition bar|26|4108|{{party color|National Rally (France)}}}}
| colours          = {{color box|{{party color|National Rally (France)}}|border=silver}} Navy blue{{refn|Other customary colours<ref>{{cite web |last=Garnier |first=Christophe-Cécil |url=http://www.slate.fr/story/111151/couleur-front-national-cartes-regionales |title=Quelle doit être la couleur du Front national sur les cartes électorales? |publisher=Slate |language=fr |date=7 December 2015 |access-date=6 May 2018 |archive-date=14 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614172549/http://www.slate.fr/story/111151/couleur-front-national-cartes-regionales |url-status=live }}</ref> include the following:<br />{{colour box|#000000|border=silver}} [[Black]] {{colour box|#505050|border=silver}} [[Grey]] {{colour box|#8B4513|border=silver}} [[Brown]] {{color box|#e20134|border=silver}} [[Red]]|group=nb}}
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = France
| footnotes        = {{cnote|A|The RN is considered part of the [[Radical right (Europe)|radical right]], a subset of the far-right which does not oppose democracy.{{refn|<ref>{{cite book |last=Ivaldi |first=Gilles |editor1-last=Akkerman |editor1-first=Tjitske |editor2-last=de Lange |editor2-first=Sarah L. |editor3-last=Rooduijn |editor3-first=Matthijs |title=Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe: Into the Mainstream? |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-317-41978-5 |page=225 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ft8eDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA225 |chapter=A new course for the French radical right? The Front National and "de-demonisation" |date=18 May 2016 |access-date=6 July 2021 |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926144322/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ft8eDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA225 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Forchtner |first=Bernhard |title=Climate change and the far right |journal=Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change |date=September 2019 |volume=10 |issue=5 |pages=e604 |doi=10.1002/wcc.604|bibcode=2019WIRCC..10E.604F |s2cid=202196807 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Forchtner |first=Bernhard |title=The Far Right and the Environment: Politics, Discourse and Communication |date=2020 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-351-10402-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qBmvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT14 |access-date=6 July 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927072356/https://books.google.com/books?id=qBmvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT14 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}}}
}}

The '''National Rally''' ({{langx|fr|Rassemblement national}}, {{IPA|fr|ʁasɑ̃bləmɑ̃ nɑsjɔnal|}}, '''RN'''), known as the '''National Front''' from 1972 to 2018 ({{langx|fr|link=no|Front national}}, {{IPA|fr|fʁɔ̃ nɑsjɔnal|}}, '''FN'''), is a French [[far-right politics|far-right]] political party, described as [[right-wing populist]] and [[French nationalism|nationalist]].<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Gilles| last=Ivaldi |title=Le Front national français dans l'espace des droites radicales européennes| journal=Pouvoirs |issue=157 |date=2016-04-18 | pages=115–126|doi=10.3917/pouv.157.0115 | url=https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01258016 |quote=le mouvement lepéniste peut être à juste titre considéré comme le modèle prototypique de la « nouvelle » droite radicale populiste paneuropéenne, variante contemporaine de l’extrême droite traditionnelle}}</ref> It is the single largest [[National Rally group (National Assembly)|parliamentary opposition party]] in the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]] since 2022. It [[Opposition to immigration|opposes immigration]], advocating significant cuts to [[legal immigration]], protection of French identity,{{sfn|Davies|2012|pp=46–55}} and stricter control of [[illegal immigration]]. The party  advocates a "more balanced" and "independent" French foreign policy, opposing French military intervention in Africa while supporting France leaving [[NATO]]'s integrated command. It also supports reform of the [[European Union]] (EU), [[economic interventionism]], [[protectionism]], and [[zero tolerance]] for breaches of [[Law and order (politics)|law and order]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=22 MESURES POUR 2022 (22 measures for 2022) |url=https://rassemblementnational.fr/22-mesures |access-date=26 June 2023 |website=Rassemblement National}}</ref>

The party was founded in 1972 by the [[Ordre Nouveau (1960s)|Ordre Nouveau]] to be the legitimate political vehicle for the far-right movement.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lebourg |first1=Nicolas |last2=Preda |first2=Jonathan |date=2013-05-15 |title=Ordre Nouveau, fin des illusions droitières et matrice activiste du premier Front national |trans-title=New Order, end of illusions and the activist matrix of the first National Front |journal= Studia Historica. Historia Contemporánea| volume=30 |pages=205–230|quote=Sa "mémoire" se structure autour de deux motifs: la violence de masse, et l'intégration de l'extrême droite au jeu politique avec la création par Ordre Nouveau du Front National en 1972.}}</ref> [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]] was its founder and leader until his resignation in 2011. While its influence was marginal until 1984, the party's role as a nationalist electoral force has grown considerably.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=229}} It has put forward a candidate at every presidential election but one since 1974. In the 2002 presidential election, Jean-Marie Le Pen advanced to the second round but finished a distant second in the runoff to [[Jacques Chirac]].{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=46, 56 and 71}} His daughter [[Marine Le Pen]] was elected to succeed him as party leader in 2012. [[Jordan Bardella]] assumed the leadership in 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=France's far right replaces Le Pen with Jordan Bardella  |url=https://www.dw.com/en/frances-far-right-picks-jordan-bardella-to-succeed-marine-le-pen-as-party-chief/a-63659047 |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

The party has seen an increase in its popularity and acceptance in French society in recent years. It has been accused of promoting [[xenophobia]] and [[Antisemitism in France|antisemitism]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=National Rally |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Rally-France |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> While her father was nicknamed the "Devil of the Republic" by mainstream media and sparked outrage for [[hate speech]], including [[Holocaust denial]] and [[Islamophobia]], Marine Le Pen pursued a policy of "[[Dédiabolisation|de-demonisation]]", trying to frame the party as being neither right nor left.<ref>Softening image:
*{{cite web |url=http://www.policy-network.net/pno_detail.aspx?ID=4821&title=The-French-National-Front-On-its-way-to-power |title=The French National Front: On its way to power? |publisher=Policy-network.net |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215151555/http://www.policy-network.net/pno_detail.aspx?ID=4821&title=The-French-National-Front-On-its-way-to-power |archive-date=15 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}
<br />Devil of the Republic:
*{{cite news |last=Craw |first=Victoria |url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/national-front-leader-marine-le-pen-tipped-for-french-presidential-run-following-terror-attacks/story-fn5tas5k-1227193765793 |title=Marine Le Pen National Front leader &#124; Who is Marine Le Pen? |publisher=News.com.au |date=23 January 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=23 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123055934/http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/national-front-leader-marine-le-pen-tipped-for-french-presidential-run-following-terror-attacks/story-fn5tas5k-1227193765793 |url-status=live }}
<br />Holocaust denial:
*{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/06/jean-marie-le-pen-fined-again-dismissing-holocaust-detail |title=Jean-Marie Le Pen fined again for dismissing Holocaust as 'detail' |work=theguardian |date=6 April 2016 |access-date=16 September 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323040033/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/06/jean-marie-le-pen-fined-again-dismissing-holocaust-detail |url-status=live }}
<br />Islamophobia:
*{{cite news |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2005/02/24/jean-marie-le-pen-condamne-pour-incitation-a-la-haine-raciale_399429_3224.html |title=Jean-Marie Le Pen condamné pour incitation à la haine raciale |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |date=24 February 2005 |publisher=lemonde.fr |access-date=16 September 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225013204/https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2005/02/24/jean-marie-le-pen-condamne-pour-incitation-a-la-haine-raciale_399429_3224.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She endeavoured to extract it from its far-right roots, as well as censuring controversial members like her father, who was suspended and then expelled from the party in 2015.<ref>Jean-Marie suspension and expulsion:
*{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32585531 |title=France National Front: Jean-Marie Le Pen suspended |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2015 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720092916/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32585531 |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/fn/jean-marie-le-pen-exclu-du-front-national_1708366.html |title=Jean-Marie Le Pen, exclu du Front national, fera "bien évidemment" un recours en justice |work=L'Express |date=20 August 2015 |access-date=9 December 2015 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208122501/http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/fn/jean-marie-le-pen-exclu-du-front-national_1708366.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following her election as the leader of the party in 2011, the popularity of the FN grew.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/local-elections-confirm-a-quarter-of-french-voters-support-front-national/ |title=Local elections confirm a quarter of French voters support Front National |publisher=openeurope.org.uk |date=23 March 2015 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119115317/http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/local-elections-confirm-a-quarter-of-french-voters-support-front-national/ |archive-date=19 November 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2015, the FN had established itself as a major political party in France.<ref>{{cite news |author=John Lichfield |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rise-of-the-french-far-right-front-national-party-could-make-sweeping-gains-at-this-months-local-elections-10078824.html |title=Rise of the French far right: Front National party could make sweeping gains at this month's local elections |work=The Independent |date=1 March 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015 |location=London |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925191526/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rise-of-the-french-far-right-front-national-party-could-make-sweeping-gains-at-this-months-local-elections-10078824.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20150302-poll-france-far-right-le-pen/ |title=France – Poll gives France's far-right National Front party boost ahead of regional vote |publisher=France24.com |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613134139/http://www.france24.com/en/20150302-poll-france-far-right-le-pen/ |archive-date=13 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sources traditionally label the party as [[Far-right politics|far-right]].<ref name="National Rally far-right">Abridged list of reliable sources that refer to the National Rally as ''far-right'': 
*'''Academic:'''
** {{cite book |last1=Azéma |first1=Jean-Pierre |title=Histoire de l'extrême droite en France |last2=Winock |first2=Michel |date=1994 |publisher=Éditions du Seuil |isbn=9782020232005}}
** {{harvnb|Camus|Lebourg|2017}}
** {{harvnb|DeClair|1999}}
** {{cite book |last1=Hobolt |first1=Sara |title=Political Entrepreneurs: The Rise of Challenger Parties in Europe |last2=De Vries |first2=Catherine |date=16 June 2020 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691194752}}
** {{cite book |last=Joly |first=Bertrand |title=Nationalistes et Conservateurs en France, 1885–1902 |date=2008 |publisher=Les Indes Savantes}}
** {{cite book |last1=Kitschelt |first1=Herbert |title=The radical right in Western Europe: a comparative analysis |last2=McGann |first2=Anthony |date=1995 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=0472106635 |location=Ann Arbor, MI |pages=91–120}}
** {{cite book |last1=McGann |first1=Anthony |title=The Radical Right in Western Europe A Comparative Analysis |last2=Kitschelt |first2=Herbert |date=1997 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=9780472084418}}
** {{cite journal |last1=Mayer |first1=Nonna |date=January 2013 |title=From Jean-Marie to Marine Le Pen: Electoral Change on the Far Right |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |volume=66 |issue=1 |pages=160–178 |doi=10.1093/pa/gss071}}
** {{cite journal |last1=Messina |first1=Anthony |date=2015 |title=The political and policy impacts of extreme right parties in time and context |journal=Ethnic and Racial Studies |volume=38 |issue=8 |pages=1355–1361 |doi=10.1080/01419870.2015.1016071 |s2cid=143522149}}
** {{cite journal |last1=Mondon |first1=Aurelien |date=2015 |title=The French secular hypocrisy: the extreme right, the Republic and the battle for hegemony |url=http://opus.bath.ac.uk/37668/1/The_French_secular_hypocrisy_Final_.docx |journal=Patterns of Prejudice |volume='49 |issue=4 |pages=392–413 |doi=10.1080/0031322X.2015.1069063 |s2cid=146600042}}
** {{cite book |last1=Mudde |first1=Cas |title=The Far Right Today and The ideology of the extreme right |date=25 October 2019 |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn=978-1509536856}}
** {{cite book |last1=Rydgren |first1=Jens |title=France: The Front National, Ethnonationalism and Populism. |date=2008 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9781349284764 |location=London}}
** {{harvnb|Shields|2007}}
** {{cite book |last=Simmons |first=Harvey G. |title=The French National Front: The Extremist Challenge To Democracy |date=1996 |publisher=Westview Press |isbn=978-0813389790}}
** {{cite journal |last=Williams |first=Michelle Hale |date=January 2011 |title=A new era for French far right politics? Comparing the FN under two Le Pens and The Impact of Radical Right-Wing Parties in West European Democracies |journal=Análise Social |volume=201 |issue=1 |pages=679–695}}
*'''News:'''
** {{cite news |date=30 March 2015 |title=Victory for France's conservatives in local elections |url=http://www.dw.com/en/victory-for-frances-conservatives-in-local-elections/a-18348677 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094302/http://www.dw.com/en/victory-for-frances-conservatives-in-local-elections/a-18348677 |archive-date=1 March 2017 |access-date=28 February 2017 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |agency=AP, AFP, Reuters}}
** {{cite news |last=Bamat |first=Joseph |date=23 April 2011 |title=New poll shows far right could squeeze out Sarkozy |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20110421-marine-le-pen-france-opinion-poll-presidential-election-sarkozy-strauss-kahn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427182625/http://www.france24.com/en/20110421-marine-le-pen-france-opinion-poll-presidential-election-sarkozy-strauss-kahn |archive-date=27 April 2011 |access-date=26 May 2011 |publisher=France 24}}
** {{cite news |last=Dodman |first=Benjamin |date=23 November 2014 |title=France's cash-strapped far right turns to Russian lender |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20141123-france-far-right-turns-russian-lender-national-front-marine-le-pen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129205458/http://www.france24.com/en/20141123-france-far-right-turns-russian-lender-national-front-marine-le-pen/ |archive-date=29 January 2015 |work=France24}}
** {{cite news |last1=Erlanger |first1=Steven |last2=de Freytas-Tamura |first2=Kimiko |date=17 December 2016 |title=E.U. Faces Its Next Big Test as France's Election Looms |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/europe/european-union-france-frexit-marine-le-pen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302100409/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/europe/european-union-france-frexit-marine-le-pen.html |archive-date=2 March 2017 |access-date=28 February 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times}}
** {{cite news |last=Frosch |first=Jon |date=7 March 2011 |title=Far-right's Marine Le Pen leads in shock new poll |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20110307-new-poll-far-right-marine-le-pen-presidential-frontrunner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310165822/http://www.france24.com/en/20110307-new-poll-far-right-marine-le-pen-presidential-frontrunner |archive-date=10 March 2011 |access-date=26 May 2011 |publisher=France 24}}
** {{cite news |last=Lichfield |first=John |date=1 March 2015 |title=Rise of the French far right: Front National party could make sweeping gains at this month's local elections |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rise-of-the-french-far-right-front-national-party-could-make-sweeping-gains-at-this-months-local-elections-10078824.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925191526/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rise-of-the-french-far-right-front-national-party-could-make-sweeping-gains-at-this-months-local-elections-10078824.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015 |work=The Independent |location=London}}
** {{cite news |last1=Meichtry |first1=Stacy |last2=Bisserbe |first2=Noemie |date=19 August 2015 |title=Le Pen Family Drama Splits France's Far Right National Front Party |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-family-drama-splits-far-right-in-france-1440029252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804051659/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-family-drama-splits-far-right-in-france-1440029252 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |access-date=28 February 2017 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}
** {{cite news |last=Polakow-Suransky |first=Sasha |title=The ruthlessly effective rebranding of Europe's new far right |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/01/the-ruthlessly-effective-rebranding-of-europes-new-far-right |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708104251/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/01/the-ruthlessly-effective-rebranding-of-europes-new-far-right |archive-date=8 July 2020 |access-date=30 June 2020 |work=The Guardian}}
** {{cite news |last=Tourret |first=Nathalie |date=14 August 2010 |title=Japanese and European far right gathers in Tokyo |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100813-japan-europe-far-right-gathering-tokyo-yasukuni-shrine-le-pen-ww2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215031332/http://www.france24.com/en/20100813-japan-europe-far-right-gathering-tokyo-yasukuni-shrine-le-pen-ww2 |archive-date=15 February 2011 |access-date=6 May 2011 |publisher=France 24}}
** {{cite magazine |last=Van |first=Sonia |date=29 July 2011 |title=France – A Guide to Europe's Right-Wing Parties and Extremist Groups |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2085728_2085727_2085707,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227151808/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2085728_2085727_2085707,00.html |archive-date=27 February 2016 |access-date=23 February 2016 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> However, some media outlets have started to refer to the party as "right-wing populist" or "nationalist right" instead, arguing that it has substantially moderated from its years under Jean-Marie Le Pen.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Vinocur |first=Nicholas |date=2024-02-12 |title=How Marine Le Pen turned respectable (and why you shouldn't be fooled) |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-turned-respectable-france-presidential-election/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=POLITICO |language=en |quote=}}
** {{cite news|lang=fr |title=Sénatoriales : le Conseil d'État juge que l'étiquette «extrême droite» doit s'appliquer aux candidats RN |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/senatoriales-le-conseil-d-etat-juge-que-l-etiquette-extreme-droite-doit-s-appliquer-aux-candidats-rn-20230922 |newspaper=Le Figaro |date=22 September 2023 |last=Cohen |first=Dinah}}</ref>  

At the FN congress of 2018, Marine Le Pen proposed renaming the party ''Rassemblement National'' (National Rally),<ref name="Le Monde, March 2018"/> and this was confirmed by a ballot of party members.<ref name="Le Monde, June 2018"/> Formerly strongly [[Eurosceptic]], the National Rally changed policies in 2019, deciding to campaign for a reform of the EU rather than leaving it and to keep the [[euro]] as the main currency of France (together with the [[CFP franc]] for some collectivities).<ref>{{cite web|last=Barbière|first=Cécile|date=2019-04-16|title=Le Pen's Rassemblement National revises stance towards EU and the euro|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/le-pens-rassemblement-national-makes-its-ties-to-the-eu-and-the-euro-official/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=euractiv.com|language=en-GB|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225013131/https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/le-pens-rassemblement-national-makes-its-ties-to-the-eu-and-the-euro-official/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Le Pen announced that she wanted to remain in the [[Schengen Area]], but to reserve free movement to nationals of a [[European Economic Area]] country, excluding residents of and visitors from another Schengen country.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|date=2021-01-29|title=Après l'euro et le Frexit, nouveau revirement européen de Marine Le Pen|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/entry/marine-le-pen-ne-veut-plus-suspendre-les-accords-de-schengen_fr_60141c35c5b653f644d31836|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Le HuffPost|language=fr|archive-date=21 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221213040/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/entry/marine-le-pen-ne-veut-plus-suspendre-les-accords-de-schengen_fr_60141c35c5b653f644d31836|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marine Le Pen n'envisage plus de suspendre les accords de Schengen|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/2965123-20210129-marine-pen-envisage-plus-suspendre-accords-schengen|access-date=2021-02-11|website=20minutes.fr|date=12 February 2020 |language=fr|archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219183354/https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/2965123-20210129-marine-pen-envisage-plus-suspendre-accords-schengen|url-status=live}}</ref>

Le Pen reached the second round of the [[2017 French presidential election|2017 presidential election]], receiving 33.9% of the votes in the run-off and losing to [[Emmanuel Macron]].  Again in the [[2022 French presidential election|2022 election]], she lost to Macron in the run-off, receiving 41.45% of the votes. In the [[2022 French legislative elections|2022 parliamentary elections]], the National Rally achieved a significant increase in the number of its MPs in the [[French National Assembly|National Assembly]], from 7 to 89 seats. In June 2024, the party won the [[2024 European Parliament election|European Parliament elections]] in a landslide with 31.4% of the votes. This caused Macron to announce a snap election. Later that month, an RN-led right-wing coalition topped the first round of the [[2024 French legislative election|snap French legislative election]] with a record 33.2% of the votes. On 7 July, the RN also won the popular vote (37.06%) in the second round of the snap election, but only won the third highest number of seats.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Left-wing surge thwarts far right in French election |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7f23bd87-ced0-4f7a-9167-c470beeb3c1a |access-date=2024-07-08 |newspaper=Financial Times|date=8 July 2024 |last1=Johnston |first1=Ian |last2=Abboud |first2=Leila |last3=Klasa |first3=Adrienne |last4=Chassany |first4=Anne-Sylvaine |last5=White |first5=Sarah |last6=McDougall |first6=Mary }}</ref>

On 31 March 2025, 25 National Rally members (including Le Pen, former MEPs, and their assistants) were convicted of [[embezzlement]] for using [[European Parliament]] funds to fund National Rally staff.  The sentences for several MEPs, including Le Pen, included bans on running for political office.<ref name="Gdn31325" /><ref name="TelegraphConviction">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/marine-le-pen-ban-french-politics-court-case/|title=Marine Le Pen banned from politics|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=31 March 2025|last=Samuel|first=Henry}}</ref><ref name="France24Conviction">{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250331-%F0%9F%94%B4-french-court-convicts-far-right-leader-marine-le-pen-in-embezzlement-trial|title=French Court bans far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office|publisher=[[France 24]]|date=31 March 2025}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Background ===
The party's ideological roots can be traced to both [[Poujadism]], a [[populist]], small business [[tax protest]] movement founded in 1953 by [[Pierre Poujade]] and on right-wing dismay over the decision by French President [[Charles de Gaulle]] to abandon his promise of holding on to the [[colony]] of [[French Algeria]], (many {{lang|fr|frontistes}}, including Le Pen, were part of an inner circle of returned servicemen known as {{lang|fr|Le cercle national des combattants}}).{{sfn|Davies|2012|pp=31–35}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=21–24}} During the [[1965 French presidential election|1965 presidential election]], Le Pen unsuccessfully attempted to consolidate the right-wing vote around presidential candidate [[Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour]].{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=25–27}} Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, the French far-right consisted mainly of small, extreme movements such as {{lang|fr|[[Occident (movement)|Occident]]}}, {{lang|fr|[[Groupe Union Défense]]}} (GUD), and the {{lang|fr|[[Ordre Nouveau (1960s)|Ordre Nouveau]]}} (ON).{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=27–31}}

Espousing France's Catholic and monarchist traditions, one of the primary progenitors of the ideology generally promoted by FN was the {{lang|fr|[[Action Française]]}}, founded at the end of the 19th century, and its descendants in the ''Restauration Nationale'', a pro-[[monarchy]] group that supports the claim of the [[Count of Paris]] to the French throne.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=13–17}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pmwYAAAAIAAJ|title=Political parties of the world|first=Alan John|last=Day|publisher=University of Michigan |year=2002 |page=193 |isbn=978-0-9536278-7-5}}</ref>

=== Early years ===
==== Foundation (1972–1973) ====
{{multiple image
 | width = 150
 | image1 = Movimento Sociale Italiano Logo.svg
 | alt1 = Logo of the Italian Social Movement
 | image2 = Old Front Nationale Logo.svg
 | alt2 = Logo of the National Front between 1972 and 2007
 | footer = '''Left:''' Logo of the Italian Social Movement<br />'''Right:''' Logo of the National Front between 1972 and 2007
}}

While ''Ordre Nouveau'' had competed in some local elections since 1970, at its second congress, in June 1972, it decided to establish a new political party to contest the [[1973 French legislative election|1973 legislative elections]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=163–164}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=36 f}} The party was launched on 5 October 1972 under the name '''National Front for French Unity''' (''Front national pour l'unité française''), or '''Front National'''.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=169}} In order to create a broad movement, ON sought to model the new party on the more established [[Italian Social Movement]] (MSI), which at the time appeared to establish a broad coalition of the Italian hard right. The FN adopted a French version of the MSI tricolour flame as its logo.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=159, 169}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=31, 36–37}}{{sfn|Kitschelt|McGann|1997|p=94}} ON wanted to unite the various French far-right currents, and brought together "nationals" of Le Pen's group and [[Roger Holeindre]]'s Party of French Unity; "nationalists" from [[Pierre Bousquet]]'s ''Militant'' movement or [[François Brigneau]]'s and Alain Robert's [[Ordre Nouveau (1960s)|Ordre Nouveau]]; the [[anti-Gaullist]] [[Georges Bidault]]'s Justice and Liberty movement; as well as former [[Poujadists]], Algerian War veterans, and some monarchists, among others.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=169}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=13}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france-politique.fr/chronologie-fn.htm|title=Chronologie du Front National FN|last=De Boissieu|first=Laurent|website=France Politique|issn=1765-2898|access-date=31 August 2019|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831115618/https://www.france-politique.fr/chronologie-fn.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Le Pen was chosen to be the first president of the party, as he was untainted with the militant public image of the ON and was a relatively moderate figure in the far-right.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=38 f}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=170}}

The National Front fared poorly in the [[1973 French legislative election|1973 legislative elections]], receiving 0.5% of the national vote, although Le Pen won 5% in his Paris constituency.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=171}} In 1973, the party created a youth movement, the ''Front national de la jeunesse'' (National Front of Youth; FNJ). The rhetoric used in the campaign stressed old, far-right themes and was largely uninspiring to the electorate at the time.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=39}} Otherwise, its official program at this point was relatively moderate, differing little from the mainstream right's.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=173 f}} Le Pen sought the "total fusion" of the currents in the party, and warned against "crude activism."{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=174 f}} The FNJ were banned from the party later that year.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=175}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=39}} The move towards the mainstream cost it many leading members and much of its militant base.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=175}}

In the [[1974 French presidential election|1974 presidential election]], Le Pen failed to find a mobilising theme for his campaign,{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=176 f}} since many of its platform's major issues, such as [[anti-communism]], were shared by most of the mainstream right.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=183}} Other FN issues included calls for increased French birth rates, immigration reduction (although this was downplayed), establishment of a professional army, abrogation of the [[Évian Accords]], and generally the creation of a "French and European [[renaissance]]."{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=177, 185}} Despite being the only nationalist candidate, he failed to gain the support of the whole of the far-right, as the various groups either rallied behind other candidates or called for voter abstention.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=177}} The campaign further lost ground when the [[Revolutionary Communist League (France)|Revolutionary Communist League]] made public a report of Le Pen's alleged involvement in torture during his time in Algeria.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=177}} In his first participation in a presidential election, Le Pen won only 0.8% of the national vote.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=177}}

==== FN–PFN rivalry (1973–1981) ====
Following the 1974 election, the FN was obscured by the appearance of the [[Party of New Forces]] (PFN), founded by FN dissidents (largely from the ON).{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=41}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=178 f}} Their competition weakened both parties throughout the 1970s.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=41}} Along with the growing influence of [[François Duprat]] and his "[[Revolutionary Nationalist Groups|revolutionary nationalists]]", the FN gained several new groups of supporters in the late 1970s and early 1980s: [[Jean-Pierre Stirbois]] (1977) and his "[[Corporatism#Corporate solidarism|solidarists]]", [[Bruno Gollnisch]] (1983), [[Bernard Antony]] (1984) and his Catholic fundamentalists, as well as [[Jean-Yves Le Gallou]] (1985) and the [[Nouvelle Droite]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=180–184}}{{sfn|Camus|Lebourg|2017|p=121}} Following the death of Duprat in a bomb attack in 1978, the revolutionary nationalists left the party, while Stirbois became Le Pen's deputy as his solidarists effectively ousted the [[neo-fascism|neo-fascist]] tendency in the party leadership.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=181, 184}} A radical group split off in 1980 and founded the [[French Nationalist Party]], dismissing the FN as becoming "too [[Zionism|Zionist]]" with Le Pen being a "puppet of the Jews."{{Sfn|Camus|Lebourg|2017|p=106}} The far right was marginalised altogether in the [[1978 French legislative election|1978 legislative elections]], although the PFN came out better off.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=179–180, 185–187}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=43}} In the first election for the [[1979 European Parliament election in France|European Parliament in 1979]], the PFN became part of an attempt to build a "Euro-Right" alliance of the continent's far-right parties, and was in the end the only one of the two that contested the election.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=181 f}} It fielded Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour as its primary candidate, while Le Pen called for voter abstention.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=182}}

For the [[1981 French presidential election|1981 presidential election]], both Le Pen and Pascal Gauchon of the PFN declared their intentions to run.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=182}} However, an increased requirement regarding obtaining signatures of support from elected officials had been introduced for the election, which left both Le Pen and Gauchon unable to participate.{{refn|group=nb|In France, parties have to secure support from a specific number of elected officials, from a specific number of departments, in order to be eligible to run for election. In 1976, the number of required elected officials was increased fivefold from the 1974 presidential cycle, and the number of departments threefold.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=182}}}}

The election was won by [[François Mitterrand]] of the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] (PS), a results that brought the [[political left]] to national power for the first time in the Fifth Republic; Mitterrand immediately dissolved the National Assembly and called a snap legislative election.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=182, 198}} With only three weeks to prepare its campaign, the FN fielded only a limited number of candidates and won only 0.2% of the national vote.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=183}} The PFN was even worse off, and the election marked the effective end of competition from the party.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=183}} The Socialists attained their best ever result with an [[absolute majority]] in the [[1981 French legislative election|1981 legislative election]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=182 f}}

The "socialist takeover" led to a radicalisation in centre-right, anti-communist, and anti-socialist voters.<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=John Kenneth |year=1998 |title=Political parties and the collapse of the old orders |publisher=SUNY |isbn=978-0-7914-4067-4 |url={{Google books|AdZBAAsucPcC|page=38|plainurl=y}} |page=38 }}</ref>

=== Jean-Marie Le Pen's leadership ===
==== Electoral breakthrough (1982–1988) ====
[[File:200109 Jean-Marie Le Pen 191.jpg|thumb|[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]], leader of the National Front from 1972 to 2011]]
While the French party system had been dominated by polarisation and competition between the clear-cut ideological alternatives of two political blocs in the 1970s, the two blocs had largely moved towards the centre by the mid-1980s. This led many voters to perceive the blocs as more or less indistinguishable, particularly after the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialists]]' "austerity turn" (''tournant de la rigueur'') of 1983,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/08/francois-mitterrand-socialist-party-common-program-communist-pcf-1981-elections-austerity/|title=The Many Lives of François Mitterrand|last=Birch|first=Jonah|date=19 August 2015|website=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]]|access-date=22 March 2017|archive-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323130713/https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/08/francois-mitterrand-socialist-party-common-program-communist-pcf-1981-elections-austerity/|url-status=live}}</ref> in turn inducing them to seek out to new political alternatives.{{sfn|Kitschelt|McGann|1997|pp=95–98}} By October 1982, Le Pen supported the prospect of deals with the mainstream right, provided that the FN did not have to soften its position on "key issues."{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=195}} In the [[1983 French municipal elections|1983 municipal elections]], the centre-right [[Rally for the Republic]] (RPR) and the centrist [[Union for French Democracy]] (UDF) formed alliances with the FN in a number of towns.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=195}} The most notable result came in the [[20th arrondissement of Paris]], where Le Pen was elected to the local council with 11% of the vote.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=195}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=60}} Subsequent by-elections kept media attention on the party, which was for the first time able to pose as a viable component of the broader right.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=196}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=61}} In a by-election in [[Dreux]] in October 1983, the FN won 17% of the vote.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=195}} With the choice of defeat to the political left or dealing with the FN, the local RPR and UDF agreed to form an alliance with the FN, causing a national sensation;{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=195}} together, they won the second round with 55% of the vote.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=60}} The events in Dreux were a monumental turning point in the rise of the FN.{{sfn|Kitschelt|McGann|1997|p=100}}

Le Pen protested the "media boycott" against his party by sending letters to President Mitterrand in mid-1982.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=196}} Following an exchange of letters with Le Pen, Mitterrand instructed the heads of the main television channels to give equitable coverage to the FN.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=196}} In January 1984, the party made its first appearance in a monthly poll of political popularity, in which 9% of respondents held a "positive opinion" of the FN and some support for Le Pen personally.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=196}} The next month, Le Pen was, for the first time, invited on a prime-time television interview programme, which he himself later deemed "the hour that changed everything".{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=196}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=76}}

In the June [[1984 European Parliament election in France|1984 European elections]], the FN won 11% of the vote and ten seats,{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=62}}{{refn|group=nb|The 1984 European election used proportional representation system.}} in a contest that was considered to have a low level of importance by the public, which played to the party's advantage.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=63}} The FN, notably, made inroads in both right-wing and left-wing constituencies, and finished 2nd in a number of towns.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=194}} While many Socialists had arguably exploited the party in order to divide the right,{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=230}} Mitterrand later conceded that he had underestimated Le Pen.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=196}} By July, 17% of opinion poll respondents held a positive opinion of the FN.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=197}}

By the early 1980s, the FN featured a mosaic of ideological tendencies and attracted figures who were previously resistant to the party.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=197}} The party managed to draw supporters from the mainstream right, including some high-profile defectors from the RPR, the UDF, and the [[National Centre of Independents and Peasants]] (CNIP).{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=197}} In the 1984 European elections, eleven of the 81 FN candidates came from these parties, while the party's list also included an [[Arabs in France|Arab]] and a [[History of the Jews in France|Jew]] - although in unwinnable positions.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=197}} Former [[Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy#France|collaborators]] were also accepted in the party, as Le Pen urged the need for "reconciliation", arguing that forty years after the war the only important question was whether or not "they wish to serve their country".{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=197}} The FN won 8.7% overall support in the [[1985 French cantonal elections|1985 cantonal elections]], netting over 30% in some areas.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=209}}

For the [[1986 French legislative election|1986 legislative elections]], the FN took advantage of the new, proportional representation system{{refn|group=nb|The system had been designed by Mitterand's party to soften its predicted weakening in the polls.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=209}}}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=66}} and won 9.8% of the vote and 35 seats in the National Assembly.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=209}} Many of these seats were filled by a new wave of "respectable" political operatives, ''notables'', who had joined the party after its 1984 success.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=64–66}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=216}} The RPR won a majority with smaller, centre-right parties, and thus avoided the need to deal with the FN.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=209}} Although FN was unable to exercise any real political influence, the party could project an image of political legitimacy.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=216}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=80}} Several of its legislative proposals were controversial and had a socially reactionary and xenophobic character, among them attempts to restore the [[death penalty]], expel foreigners who "proportionally committed more crimes than the French", restrict naturalisation, introduce a "national preference" for employment, impose taxes on the hiring of foreigners by French companies, and privatise [[Agence France-Presse]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fabre|first1=Clarisse|title=Entre 1986 et 1988, les députés FN voulaient rétablir la peine de mort et instaurer la préférence nationale|url=http://felina.pagesperso-orange.fr/doc/extr_dr/prop_lois.htm|access-date=18 September 2016|date=4 May 2002|format=In French|archive-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212194534/http://felina.pagesperso-orange.fr/doc/extr_dr/prop_lois.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party's time in the National Assembly effectively came to an end when [[Jacques Chirac]] reinstated the two-round system of majority voting for the next election.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=217}} In [[1986 French regional elections|the regional elections]] held on the same day, FN won 137 seats, and gained representation in 21 of the 22 French regional councils.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=209}} The RPR depended on FN support to win presidencies in some regional councils, and the FN won vice-presidential posts in four regions.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=209}}

==== Consolidation (1988–1997) ====
Le Pen's campaign for the presidential election unofficially began in the months following the 1986 election.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=219}} To promote his statesmanship credentials, he made trips to South East Asia, the United States, and Africa.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=219}} The management of the formal campaign, launched in April 1987, was entrusted to [[Bruno Mégret]], one of the new ''notables''.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=219}} With his entourage, Le Pen traversed France for the entire period and, helped by Mégret, employed an American-style campaign.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=68}} Le Pen's presidential campaign was highly successful; no candidates came close to rival his ability to excite audiences at rallies and boost ratings at television appearances.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=219}} Using a [[Populism|populist]] tone, he presented himself as the representative of the people against the "gang of four" (RPR, UDF, PS, [[Communist Party of France|Communist Party]]), while the central theme of his campaign was "national preference".{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=219}} In the [[1988 French presidential election|1988 presidential election]], Le Pen won an unprecedented 14.4% of the vote,{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=224}} and double the votes of 1984.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=70}}

In the snap [[1988 French legislative election|1988 legislative elections]], the FN was hurt by the return two-ballot majority voting, by the limited campaign period, and by the departure of many ''notables''.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=80}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=227}} In the election, the party retained its 9.8% support from the previous legislative election, but was reduced to a single seat in the National Assembly.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=227}} Following some [[anti-Semitism|anti-Semitic]] comments made by Le Pen and the FN newspaper ''National Hebdo'' in the late 1980s, some valuable FN politicians left the party.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=223 f}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=89}} Soon, other quarrels left the party without its remaining member of the National Assembly.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=90}} In November 1988, general secretary Jean-Pierre Stirbois, who, together with his wife Marie-France, had been instrumental in the FN's early electoral successes, died in a car accident, leaving Bruno Mégret as the unrivalled, de facto FN deputy leader.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=219}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=90}} The party only got 5% in the [[1988 French cantonal elections|1988 cantonal elections]], while the RPR announced it would reject any alliance with the FN, a rejections that now included the local level.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=233}}

In the [[1989 European Parliament election in France|1989 European elections]], the FN held on to its ten seats, winning 11.7% of the vote.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=234}}

In the wake of FN's electoral success, the immigration debate, growing concerns over Islamic fundamentalism, and [[The Satanic Verses controversy|the ''fatwa'']] against [[Salman Rushdie]] by [[Ruhollah Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]], the 1989 ''[[France debate over veils|affaire du foulard]]'' was the first major test of the relations between the values of the French Republic and [[Islam]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=235–237}} Following that success, surveys found that French public opinion was largely negative towards Islam.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=237}} In a 1989 legislative by-election in Dreux, FN candidate Marie-France Stirbois, campaigning mostly on an anti-[[Islamism]] platform, returned a symbolic FN presence to the National Assembly.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=236 f}} By the early 1990s, some mainstream politicians began also employing anti-immigration rhetoric.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=93}} In the first round of the [[1993 French legislative election|1993 legislative elections]], the FN soared to 12.7% of the overall vote, but did not win a single seat due to the nature of the electoral system.{{refn|group=nb|if the election had used proportional representation, it would have won 64 seats.}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=247–249}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|pp=94 f}} In the [[1995 French presidential election|1995 presidential election]], votes for Le Pen rose to 15% of the total.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=252}}

The FN won an [[absolute majority]] (and thus the mayorship) in three cities in the [[1995 French municipal elections|1995 municipal elections]]: [[Toulon]], [[Marignane]], and [[Orange, Vaucluse|Orange]].{{refn|group=nb|It had won a mayorship only once before, in the small town of [[Saint-Gilles-du-Gard]] in 1989.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=261}}}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=260 f}}  Le Pen then declared that his party would implement its "national preference" policy, with the risk of provoking the central government and being at odds with the laws of the Republic.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=261}} The FN's elected representatives pursued interventionist policies with regards to the new cultural complexion of their towns by directly influencing artistic events, cinema schedules, and library holdings, as well as cutting or halting subsidies for multicultural associations.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=262 f}} The party won [[Vitrolles, Bouches-du-Rhône|Vitrolles]], its fourth town, in a 1997 by-election, where similar policies were subsequently pursued.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=263}} Vitrolles' new mayor {{ill|Catherine Mégret|fr}}, who ran in place of her husband Bruno,{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=101}} went further in one significant measure, introducing a special 5,000-[[French franc|franc]] allowance for babies born to at least one parent of French (or EU) nationality.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=263}} The measure was ruled illegal by a court, which sentenced her to a suspended prison sentence, a fine, and a two-year ban from office.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=263}}

==== Turmoil and split of the MNR (1997–2002) ====
[[File:Bruno Megret bordeaux.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Bruno Mégret]] and his faction broke out from the FN to form the MNR party]]
In the [[1997 French legislative election|1997 legislative elections]], the FN polled its best-ever result with 15.3% support in [[metropolitan France]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=264}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=104}} The result showed that the party had become established enough to compete without its leader, who had decided not to run, in order to focus on the 2002 presidential election.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=103}} Although it won only one seat in the National Assembly, in [[Toulon]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.lesoir.be/toulon-la-vitrine-du-fn-sur-l-hexagone_t-19970529-Z0DRXN.html |title=Archives |publisher=Archives.lesoir.be |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=28 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228104404/http://archives.lesoir.be/toulon-la-vitrine-du-fn-sur-l-hexagone_t-19970529-Z0DRXN.html |url-status=live }}</ref> it advanced to the second round in 132 constituencies.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=264 f}} The FN was arguably more influential at that time than it had been in 1986 with its 35 seats.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=275}} While Bruno Mégret and [[Bruno Gollnisch]], favoured tactical cooperation with a weakened centre-right following the left's victory, Le Pen rejected any such "compromise."{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=276}} In the tenth FN national congress in 1997, Mégret stepped up his position in the party as its rising star and a potential leader following Le Pen.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=271 f}} Le Pen however refused to designate Mégret as his successor-elect, and instead made his wife Jany the leader of the FN list for the upcoming European election.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=277–279}}

Mégret and his faction left the FN in January 1999 and founded the [[National Republican Movement]] (MNR), effectively splitting the FN in half at most levels.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=279}}<ref name="oxfn">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KQXLgP6CZBkC&pg=PP356|chapter=National Front (France)|title=The concise Oxford dictionary of politics|first1=Iain|last1=McLean|first2=Alistair|last2=McMillan|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University|isbn=978-0-19-920516-5|page=356|access-date=6 July 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927060006/https://books.google.com/books?id=KQXLgP6CZBkC&pg=PP356|url-status=live}}</ref> Many of those who joined the new MNR had joined the FN in the mid-1980s, in part from the ''Nouvelle Droite'', with a vision of building bridges to the parliamentary right.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=279}} Many had also been particularly influential in intellectualising the FN's policies on immigration, identity, and "national preference". Following the split, Le Pen denounced them as "extremist" and "racist".{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=279}} Support for the two parties was almost equal in the [[1999 European Parliament election in France|1999 European election]], as the FN polled its lowest national score since 1984 with just 5.7%, and the MNR won 3.3%.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=280}} The effects of the split, and competition from more moderate nationalists, resulted in their combined support being lower than the FN result of 1984.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=280 f}}

==== Presidential run-off (2002) ====
[[File:200109 Présidentielles 2002 122.jpg|thumb|Logo for Le Pen's 2002 presidential campaign]]
For the [[2002 French presidential election|2002 presidential election]], opinion polls had predicted a run-off between incumbent President Chirac and Socialist candidate [[Lionel Jospin]].<ref name=tel1 />{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=281}} In a shock outcome, Le Pen outperformed Jospin (by 0.7%) in the 1st round, placing second and advancing to the runoff.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=281}} This resulted in the first presidential run-off since 1969 without a leftist candidate and the first ever with a candidate from the far-right.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=282}} To Le Pen's advantage, the election campaign had increasingly focused on law-and-order issues, helped by media attention on a number of violent incidents.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=283}} Jospin had also been weakened due to the competition between an exceptional number of leftist parties.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=284}} Nevertheless, Chirac did not even have to campaign in the second round, as widespread anti-Le Pen protests from the media and public opinion culminated on [[May Day]] in a demonstration of 1.5 million participants across France.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=288 f}} Chirac also refused to debate with Le Pen, and the traditional televised debate was cancelled.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=289}} In the end, Chirac won the presidential run-off with an unprecedented 82.2% of the vote, with 71% of his votes—according to polls—cast simply "to block Le Pen".{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=289}} Following the presidential election, the main centre-right parties merged to form the broad-based [[Union for a Popular Movement]] (UMP).{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=291}} The FN failed to hold on to Le Pen's support for the [[2002 French legislative election|2002 legislative elections]], in which it got 11.3% of the vote.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=291–293}} It nevertheless outpolled Mégret's MNR, which had fielded the same number of candidates but won a mere 1.1% support.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=292 f}}

==== Decline (2003–2010) ====
[[File:LePencestpossible.jpg|thumb|left|National advertisement in [[Marseille]] for Le Pen's 2007 presidential bid]]
A new electoral system of two-round voting had been introduced for the [[2004 French regional elections|2004 regional elections]], in part in an attempt to reduce the FN's influence in regional councils.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=297}} The FN won 15.1% of the vote in metropolitan France, almost the same as in 1998, but its number of councillors was almost halved due to the new system.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=298}} For the [[2004 European Parliament election in France|2004 European elections]], too, a new system less favourable to the FN had been introduced.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=300}} The party regained some of its strength from 1999, earning 9.8% of the vote and seven seats.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=300}}

For the [[2007 French presidential election|2007 presidential election]], Le Pen and Mégret agreed to join forces. Le Pen came 4th in the election with 11% of the vote, and the party won no seats in the [[2007 French legislative election|legislative election of the same year]]. The party's 4.3% support was the lowest score since the 1981 election and only one candidate, [[Marine Le Pen]] in [[Pas de Calais]], reached the runoff -where she was defeated by the Socialist incumbent. These electoral defeats partly accounted for the party's financial problems. Le Pen announced the sale of the FN headquarters in [[Saint-Cloud]], ''Le Paquebot'', and of his personal armoured car.<ref>{{cite news|first=Pascal|last=Riché|url=http://www.rue89.com/mon-oeil/apres-le-paquebot-le-pen-vend-sa-605-blindee-sur-ebay|title=Après le "Paquebot", Le Pen vend sa 605 blindée sur eBay|work=[[Rue 89]]|date=29 April 2008|access-date=5 July 2011|language=fr|archive-date=22 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522141611/http://www.rue89.com/mon-oeil/apres-le-paquebot-le-pen-vend-sa-605-blindee-sur-ebay|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, a French court handed Le Pen a three-month suspended sentence and a €10,000 fine for remarks he made in 2005 that contravened France's law against [[Holocaust denial]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Britannica}}</ref> Twenty permanent employees of the FN were also dismissed in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.20minutes.fr/article/228650/Politique-La-Peugeot-de-Le-Pen-a-nouveau-mise-en-vente-sur-ebay.php|title=La Peugeot de Le Pen à nouveau mise en vente sur ebay|work=[[20 minutes (France)|20 Minutes]]|date=30 April 2008|access-date=5 July 2011|first=Alexandre|last=Sulzer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927115753/http://www.20minutes.fr/article/228650/Politique-La-Peugeot-de-Le-Pen-a-nouveau-mise-en-vente-sur-ebay.php|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[2010 French regional elections|2010 regional elections]] the FN appeared to have re-emerged on the political scene after surprisingly winning almost 12% of the overall vote and 118 seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7448051/Far-Right-National-Front-performs-well-in-French-regional-elections.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|title=Far-Right National Front performs well in French regional elections|first=Henry|last=Samuel|location=Paris|date=15 March 2010|access-date=15 April 2011|archive-date=18 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100318042117/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7448051/Far-Right-National-Front-performs-well-in-French-regional-elections.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Marine Le Pen's leadership ===
==== Revival of the FN (2011–2012) ====
{{Main|2012 Marine Le Pen presidential campaign}}
[[File:Marine Le Pen 481910683 0aa38c1c25 o d.jpg|thumb|left|[[Marine Le Pen]], National Front president (2011–2022)]]
[[File:French regional elections 2015 1st Round.svg|thumb|Results by region at the first round of the [[2015 French regional elections]], with regions where the National Front gained the most votes in grey]]
Jean-Marie Le Pen announced in September 2008 that he would retire as FN president in 2010.<ref name="tel1">{{cite news |last=Samuel |first=Henry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2798961/French-far-right-leader-Jean-Marie-Le-Pen-sets-retirement-date.html |title=French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen sets retirement date |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=11 September 2008 |access-date=15 April 2011 |location=Paris |archive-date=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103033928/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2798961/French-far-right-leader-Jean-Marie-Le-Pen-sets-retirement-date.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Le Pen's daughter Marine Le Pen and FN executive vice-president Bruno Gollnisch campaigned to succeed Le Pen,<ref name=tel1 /> with Marine's candidacy backed by her father.<ref name=tel1 /> On 15 January 2011, it was announced that Marine Le Pen had received the two-thirds vote needed to become the new leader of the FN.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12198370|title=Marine Le Pen 'chosen to lead Frances National Front'|work=BBC News|date=15 January 2011|access-date=15 April 2011|archive-date=16 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316142838/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12198370|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bbc2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12201475|title=France's National Front picks Marine Le Pen as new head|work=BBC News|date=16 January 2011|access-date=15 April 2011|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424051144/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12201475|url-status=live}}</ref> She embarked on a project to transform the FN into a "mainstream party" by softening its xenophobic image.<ref name=tel1 /><ref name=bbc1 /><ref name=bbc2 /> Opinion polls showed the party's popularity increase under Marine Le Pen, and in the [[2011 French cantonal elections|2011 cantonal elections]] the party won 15% of the overall vote (up from 4.5% in 2008). However, due to the French electoral system, the party only won 2 of the 2,026 seats that were up for election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/CN2011/|work=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|French Interior Ministry]]|date=26 May 2011|access-date=5 July 2011|title=Résultats des élections Cantonales 2011|language=fr|archive-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714030846/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/CN2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the end of 2011, the National Front withdrew from the far-right [[Alliance of European National Movements]] and joined the more moderate [[European Alliance for Freedom|European Alliance of Freedom]]. In October 2013, Bruno Gollnisch and Jean-Marie Le Pen resigned from their position in the AENM.

For the [[2012 French presidential election|2012 presidential election]], opinion polls showed Marine Le Pen as a serious challenger, with a few polls even suggesting that she could win the first round of the election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Frosch |first=Jon |title=Far-right's Marine Le Pen leads in shock new poll |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20110307-new-poll-far-right-marine-le-pen-presidential-frontrunner |publisher=France 24 |date=7 March 2011 |access-date=26 May 2011 |archive-date=10 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310165822/http://www.france24.com/en/20110307-new-poll-far-right-marine-le-pen-presidential-frontrunner |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bamat |first=Joseph |title=New poll shows far right could squeeze out Sarkozy |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20110421-marine-le-pen-france-opinion-poll-presidential-election-sarkozy-strauss-kahn |publisher=France 24 |date=23 April 2011 |access-date=26 May 2011 |archive-date=27 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427182625/http://www.france24.com/en/20110421-marine-le-pen-france-opinion-poll-presidential-election-sarkozy-strauss-kahn |url-status=live }}</ref> In the event, Le Pen came 3rd in the first round, scoring 17.9% – the best showing ever in a presidential election for the FN at that time.

In the [[2012 French legislative election|2012 legislative election]], the National Front won two seats: [[Gilbert Collard]] and [[Marion Maréchal]].<ref name="DT2MMLP">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9337631/Marion-Le-Pen-becomes-youngest-French-MP-in-modern-history.html|title=Marion Le Pen becomes youngest French MP in modern history|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|last=Samuel|first=Henry|date=17 June 2012|access-date=30 June 2012|location=London|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622062721/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9337631/Marion-Le-Pen-becomes-youngest-French-MP-in-modern-history.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2012/030/03002.html|title=2012 French legislative elections: Gard's 2nd constituency (first round and run-off)|publisher=Minister of the Interior (France)|access-date=30 June 2012|language=fr|archive-date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712085320/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/LG2012/030/03002.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-17/anti-euro-le-pen-party-wins-first-parliament-seats-in-15-years|title=Anti-Euro Le Pen Party Wins First Parliament Seats in 15 Years|newspaper=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|last=Fouquet|first=Helene|date=17 June 2012|access-date=30 June 2012|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621031255/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-17/anti-euro-le-pen-party-wins-first-parliament-seats-in-15-years|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In two polls about presidential favourites, conducted in April and May 2013,<ref name="nouvelobs1">{{cite web |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/politique/20130503.OBS8113/un-an-apres-la-presidentielle-marine-le-pen-devancerait-francois-hollande.html |title=Un an après la présidentielle, Marine Le Pen devancerait François Hollande- 3 mai 2013 – L'Obs |date=3 May 2013 |publisher=Tempsreel.nouvelobs.com |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114745/http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/politique/20130503.OBS8113/un-an-apres-la-presidentielle-marine-le-pen-devancerait-francois-hollande.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Marine le Pen polled ahead of president [[François Hollande]] but behind [[Nicolas Sarkozy]].<ref name="nouvelobs1" />

==== Electoral successes (2012–2017) ====
[[File:Jielbeaumadier manif anti-fn paris 2014.jpeg|thumb|Demonstration against the National Front in Paris after the results of the 2014 election]] In the [[2014 French municipal elections|municipal elections held on 23 and 30 March 2014]], lists officially supported by the National Front won mayoralties in 12 cities: [[Beaucaire, Gard|Beaucaire]], [[Cogolin]], [[Fréjus]], [[Hayange]], [[Hénin-Beaumont]], [[Le Luc]], [[Le Pontet, Vaucluse|Le Pontet]], [[Mantes-la-Ville]], [[Arrondissements of Marseille|the 7th arrondissement of Marseille]], [[Villers-Cotterêts]], [[Béziers]] and [[Camaret-sur-Aigues]]. While some of these cities were in southern France (like Fréjus) which traditionally votes more for right-wing parties than the rest of the country, others were located in northern France, where Socialist Party had been strong until the 2010s. Following these elections, the National Front had, in cities of over 1,000 inhabitants, 1,546 and 459 councilors at two different levels of local government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.frontnational.com/2014/03/elections-municipales-2014-le-front-national-gagne-12-villes-fait-elire-1546-conseillers-municipaux-et-459-elus-dans-les-intercommunalites/|title=2014 municipal elections: the National Front won 12 cities, elected in 1546 and 459 councilors elected in intercommunal! 31 March 2014|access-date=4 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708102640/http://www.frontnational.com/2014/03/elections-municipales-2014-le-front-national-gagne-12-villes-fait-elire-1546-conseillers-municipaux-et-459-elus-dans-les-intercommunalites/|archive-date=8 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The international media described the results as "historic".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/03/the-french-right-scores-a-historic-victory.html |title=The French Right Scores a Historic Victory |magazine=The New Yorker |date=31 March 2014 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407215605/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/03/the-french-right-scores-a-historic-victory.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Samuel |first=Henry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10717592/Far-Right-Front-National-makes-historic-gains-in-French-municipal-elections.html |title=Far-Right Front National makes historic gains in French municipal elections |work=The Telegraph |date=23 March 2014 |access-date=31 March 2015 |location=London |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134733/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10717592/Far-Right-Front-National-makes-historic-gains-in-French-municipal-elections.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Meichtry |first=Stacy |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304587704579584114139656096 |title=France's National Front Scores Historic Win in European Election |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=25 May 2014 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=29 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529113353/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304587704579584114139656096 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The National Front received 4,712,461 votes in the [[2014 European Parliament election in France|2014 European Parliament election]], finishing first with 24.86% of the vote and 24 of France's 74 seats.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/25/france-national-front-win-european-elections] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814145406/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/25/france-national-front-win-european-elections|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=14 August 2015}}</ref> This was said to be "the first time the anti-immigrant, anti-EU party had won a nationwide election in its four-decade history."<ref>{{cite news |last=John |first=Mark |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-election-france-idUSBREA4O0CP20140525 |title=Far-right National Front stuns French elite with EU 'earthquake' |work=Reuters |date=25 May 2014 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=11 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611125914/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-election-france-idUSBREA4O0CP20140525 |url-status=live }}</ref> The party's success came as a "shock" in France and the EU.<ref>{{cite news |author=Charlemagne European politics |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2014/05/national-fronts-victory |title=The National Front's victory: France in shock |newspaper=The Economist |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104850/http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2014/05/national-fronts-victory |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Meichtry |first=Stacy |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304587704579585501067038362 |title=France Shaken by National Front 'Earthquake' |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823180006/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304587704579585501067038362 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Front National becomes Rassemblement National (2018)====
At the conclusion of the 11 March 2018 party congress in Lille, Marine Le Pen proposed renaming the party to ''Rassemblement national'' (National Rally) while keeping the flame as its logo.<ref name="Le Monde, March 2018">{{cite news|title=Marine Le Pen propose de renommer le FN " Rassemblement national "|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/live/2018/03/11/congres-du-front-national-suivez-en-direct-le-discours-de-marine-le-pen_5269149_823448.html|newspaper=Le Monde|date=11 March 2018|access-date=11 March 2018|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311152445/http://www.lemonde.fr//politique/live/2018/03/11/congres-du-front-national-suivez-en-direct-le-discours-de-marine-le-pen_5269149_823448.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The name was not unknown in French politics:  it recalled both the [[National Popular Rally]], a collaborationist party founded by [[Marcel Déat]] in 1941 with the help of [[Eugène Deloncle]], founder of [[La Cagoule]], and led by {{illm|Georges Albertini|fr}} during the Occupation<ref>{{cite news|last=Combis |first=Hélène |title=Le FN devient "Rassemblement national" : un nouveau nom au lourd passé |url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/le-fn-devient-rassemblement-national-un-nouveau-nom-au-lourd-passe-4434420 |date=2018-03-12 |work=Radio France |lang=fr}}</ref>  and the [[Rassemblement National Français]], founded by the far-right lawyer and politician [[Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour]], whose [[1965 French presidential election|presidential campaign in 1965]] was managed by Jean-Marie Le Pen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Check News:Est-il vrai qu'il existait un "Rassemblement National Populaire" collaborationiste ? |url=https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2018/03/13/est-il-vrai-qu-il-existait-un-rassemblement-national-populaire-collaborationiste_1653353/|newspaper=Libération |date=13 March 2018 |last=Tanguy |first=Marie-Perrine }}</ref> It had already been used by the FN for {{ill|Groupe Front national – Rassemblement national|fr|Groupe Front national – Rassemblement national|lt=its parliamentary group}} between 1986 and 1988. Nevertheless, the name change faced opposition from an already-existing party named "Rassemblement national", whose president, Igor Kurek, described the group as "Gaullist and republican right" and who had  registered the name with the [[National Institute of Industrial Property (France)|INPI]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2018/03/11/rassemblement-national-trop-proche-de-rassemblement-national-populaire-ancien-parti-collaborationniste_a_23382664/ |title="Rassemblement national", trop proche de "Rassemblement national populaire", ancien parti collaborationniste? |last=Herreros |first=Romain |date=11 March 2018 |website=[[HuffPost]] |language=fr |trans-title="National Rally", too close to "National People's Rally", former collaborationist party? |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015192325/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2018/03/11/rassemblement-national-trop-proche-de-rassemblement-national-populaire-ancien-parti-collaborationniste_a_23382664/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/12/marine-le-pen-row-new-name-front-national-rassemblement-national |title=Marine Le Pen sparks row over new name for Front National |last=Willsher |first=Kim |date=12 March 2018 |website=[[theguardian.com]] |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015192330/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/12/marine-le-pen-row-new-name-front-national-rassemblement-national |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 June, Le Pen announced that the name change was approved by party adherents with 80.81% in favour.<ref name="Le Monde, June 2018">{{cite news |title=Marine Le Pen annonce que le Front national devient Rassemblement national |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2018/06/01/marine-le-pen-annonce-que-le-front-national-devient-rassemblement-national_5308450_823448.html |newspaper=Le Monde |date=1 June 2018 |access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601234455/https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2018/06/01/marine-le-pen-annonce-que-le-front-national-devient-rassemblement-national_5308450_823448.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Presidential and parliamentary election, rebranding (2017–2022) ====
{{Main|2017 Marine Le Pen presidential campaign}}
On 24 April 2017, a day after the first round of the [[2017 French presidential election|presidential election]], Marine Le Pen announced that she would temporarily step down as the party's leader in an attempt to "unite voters."<ref name="auto">{{cite news |title=Marine Le Pen temporarily steps down as Front National leader to concentrate on presidential bid |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-front-national-stepping-down-leader-party-french-election-a7700286.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906035210/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-front-national-stepping-down-leader-party-french-election-a7700286.html |archive-date=6 September 2017}}</ref> In the second round of voting, Le Pen was defeated 66.1% to 33.9% by her rival [[Emmanuel Macron]] of [[En Marche!]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/07/world/europe/why-macron-won-france.html|title=Why Macron Won: Luck, Skill and France's Dark History|last=Nossiter|first=Adam|date=7 May 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 May 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=9 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509002348/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/07/world/europe/why-macron-won-france.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[2017 French legislative election|following parliamentary elections]], the FN received 13.02%  of the vote, a little lower than the 13.07% of the 2012 elections. The party appeared to have suffered from a demobilisation of its voters from the previous vote. Nonetheless, eight deputies (six FN and two affiliated) were elected, the best number for the FN in a parliamentary election using a majoritarian electoral system since its creation.{{refn|group=nb|The proportional representation was used in the 1986 elections.}} Marine Le Pen was elected to the National Assembly for the first time, while [[Gilbert Collard]] was re-elected. FN's 23-year-old [[Ludovic Pajot]] became the youngest ever member of the French parliament.

In late 2017, [[Florian Philippot]] left the FN and formed [[The Patriots (France)|The Patriots]], on the grounds that the FN had "softened" its position on leaving the [[EU]] and abandoning the [[Euro]].<ref>Louise Nordstorm, [http://www.france24.com/en/20171218-france-philippot-les-patriotes-le-pen-ex-protege-win-over-french-far-right-party Les Patriotes: How Le Pen's ex-protégé hopes to win over French far right] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109164057/http://www.france24.com/en/20171218-france-philippot-les-patriotes-le-pen-ex-protege-win-over-french-far-right-party |date=9 January 2018 }}. France 24, 18 December 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.</ref>

In 2018, [[Steve Bannon]], former advisor to Donald Trump before and after his 2016 election, gave what has been described as a "populist [[pep talk]]".<ref name="Nossiter">{{cite news |last=Nossiter |first=Adam |title='Let Them Call You Racists': Bannon's Pep Talk to National Front |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/europe/steve-bannon-france-national-front.html |work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription |date=10 March 2018 |access-date=30 March 2018 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=15 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215020017/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/europe/steve-bannon-france-national-front.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Bannon advised the party members to "Let them call you racist, let them call you xenophobes, let them call you nativists. Wear it like a badge of honor. Because every day, we get stronger and they get weaker. ... History is on our side and will bring us victory." Bannon's remarks brought the members to their feet.<ref>{{citation |publisher=France 24 |date=11 March 2018 |access-date=11 August 2019 |title=Wear 'racist' like a badge of honour, Bannon tells French far-right summit |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180311-france-usa-bannon-le-pen-national-front-racist-badge-honour-populist-pep-talk-lille-trump?ref=tw |author=McNicholl, Tracy}}</ref><ref>Willsher, Kim (10 March 2018) [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/10/steve-bannon-tells-french-far-right-history-is-on-our-side "Steve Bannon tells French far-right 'history is on our side'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215020200/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/10/steve-bannon-tells-french-far-right-history-is-on-our-side |date=15 February 2021 }} ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref><ref>Ganley, Elaine (10 March 2018) [https://www.businessinsider.com/bannon-racist-label-is-badge-of-honor-france-far-right-party-speech-2018-3-2 "Steve Bannon told a French far-right party to wear the 'racist' label 'as a badge of honor'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804134443/https://www.businessinsider.com/bannon-racist-label-is-badge-of-honor-france-far-right-party-speech-2018-3-2 |date=4 August 2020 }} [[Associated Press]] via ''[[Business Insider]]''</ref>

In January 2019, ex-Sarkozy minister [[Thierry Mariani]] and former conservative lawmaker [[Jean-Paul Garraud]], left [[The Republicans (France)|Les Républicains]] (LR) and joined the National Rally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ex-sarkozy-minister-jumps-conservative-ship-to-join-french-far-right-11103410 |title=Ex-Sarkozy minister jumps conservative ship to join French far-right - Channel NewsAsia |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-date=9 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109174418/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ex-sarkozy-minister-jumps-conservative-ship-to-join-french-far-right-11103410 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During a 2021 debate, Marine Le Pen was called "soft" on Islam by the Minister of the Interior in Macron's government, [[Gérald Darmanin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/marine-le-pen-molle-les-propos-de-gerald-darmanin-sement-l-embarras-au-sein-de-la-rem_AN-202102150325.html|title=Marine le Pen "molle": Les propos de Gérald Darmanin sèment l'embarras au sein de LaREM|date=15 February 2021 |access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=4 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404122316/https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/marine-le-pen-molle-les-propos-de-gerald-darmanin-sement-l-embarras-au-sein-de-la-rem_AN-202102150325.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Marine Le Pen called for a "national-unity government" that would include persons such as [[Nicolas Dupont-Aignan]], former LR officials, and [[Souverainism|souverainistes]] on the left, such as former economy minister [[Arnaud Montebourg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2996931-20210312-marine-pen-promet-gouvernement-union-nationale-si-elue-2022|title=Marine le Pen promet un " gouvernement d'union nationale " si elle est élue|date=12 March 2021 |access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316122047/https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2996931-20210312-marine-pen-promet-gouvernement-union-nationale-si-elue-2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the months before the [[2021 French regional elections]], political commentators noted an increased moderation in the FN's platform that aimed to attract conservative voters,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.leparisien.fr/elections/regionales/regionales-en-paca-a-marseille-les-lr-historiques-voteront-thierry-mariani-le-candidat-du-rn-16-05-2021-ESIYLIBSDBAXPAA7HKJPJ2RRGE.php|title = Régionales en Paca : à Marseille, "les LR historiques voteront Thierry Mariani", le candidat du RN|date = 16 May 2021|access-date = 19 May 2021|archive-date = 19 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210519015054/https://www.leparisien.fr/elections/regionales/regionales-en-paca-a-marseille-les-lr-historiques-voteront-thierry-mariani-le-candidat-du-rn-16-05-2021-ESIYLIBSDBAXPAA7HKJPJ2RRGE.php|url-status = live}}</ref> as well as a new image being promoted by the party as a force of ''la droite populaire'', i.e. the popular right, the social right.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/le-parti-de-marine-le-pen-engrange-les-ralliements-a-droite-20210511|title=Le parti de Marine le Pen engrange les ralliements à droite|date=11 May 2021|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519015054/https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/le-parti-de-marine-le-pen-engrange-les-ralliements-a-droite-20210511|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/05/12/le-rn-veut-seduire-la-droite-9540606.php|title=Elections régionales : En Aveyron, le RN veut séduire la droite|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519015056/https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/05/12/le-rn-veut-seduire-la-droite-9540606.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The party, nonetheless, fared badly in these elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Willsher |first1=Kim |title=Le Pen's far-right party suffers blow in French regional elections |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/27/le-pens-far-right-party-suffers-blow-in-french-regional-elections |work=The Guardian |date=27 June 2021 |access-date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=28 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628073435/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/27/le-pens-far-right-party-suffers-blow-in-french-regional-elections |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2022 French presidential election]], Le Pen again reached the 2nd round with 23.15% of the votes, though she was defeated by incumbent Macron, after receiving 41.45% of the votes in the run-off.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-24 |title=French election result: Macron defeats Le Pen and vows to unite divided France |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61209058 |access-date=2023-06-14}}</ref>

In the [[2022 French legislative election]], for which polling had indicated that FN would win only between 15 and 45 seats in the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]], the party received 18.68% of the votes in the first round<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=Résultats des législatives 2022 : le Rassemblement national arrive troisième avec 18,68% des voix au premier tour, selon les résultats définitifs |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/elections/legislatives/resultats-des-legislatives-2022-le-rassemblement-national-arrive-troisieme-avec-18-9-des-voix-au-premier-tour-selon-notre-estimation-ipsos-sopra-steria_5184748.html |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and won 89 seats in the second round,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-19 |title=France: Marine Le Pen's National Rally estimated to win 89 seats |url=https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220619-marine-le-pen-s-national-rally-estimated-to-win-89-seats |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=France 24}}</ref> a significant increase from the previous total of 8 seats. The 89 seats enabled the National Rally to form a parliamentary group, for which at least 15 deputies are required, for the first time since 1986, when the national assembly was elected by proportional voting. The result made the party the 3rd largest party in the assembly and the largest [[parliamentary opposition]] group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-16 |title=The makeover of France's National Rally |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-for-frances-national-rally-the-past-still-looms/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=POLITICO}}</ref>

=== Jordan Bardella's leadership ===
{{See also|2024 The Republicans crisis}}
[[Jordan Bardella]] was elected president of the RN on 5 November 2022, ending Marine Le Pen's period as president of the party. Le Pen remained president of the RN's parliamentary group.<ref name=":2" />

====2024 European parliament election====

In the [[2024 European Parliament election in France|2024 European parliamentary elections]], the RN won the most delegates of any single party (30). On 8 July, Bardella became president of the [[Patriots for Europe]], originally founded by Viktor Orbán with the Czech [[ANO 2011|ANO]] and the Austrian [[Freedom Party of Austria|FPÖ]] parties on a platform of refusing military aid to Ukraine, anti-immigration, and pro-"traditional family" values.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bardella heads Patriots for Europe, EU Parliament's third-largest group |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/07/10/bardella-heads-the-third-largest-group-of-the-eu-parliament-patriots-for-europe_6679639_4.html |last=Malingre |first=Virginie |date=2024-07-10 |newspaper=Le Monde}}</ref> The group, the third largest in the parliament, also includes members from the Flemish [[Vlaams Belang]], the Dutch [[Party for Freedom|PVV]],<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Le Canard Enchaîné |page=2 |title=Bardella se récupère à Strasbourg |date=2024-07-10}}</ref> and the Italian [[Lega (political party)|Lega per Salvini Premier]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240709-le-pen-orban-and-the-patriots-for-europe-is-the-eu-being-undermined-from-within |title=Le Pen, Orban and the 'Patriots for Europe': Is the EU being undermined from within? |date=2024-07-09}}</ref>

The National Rally's success in the European elections led to the dissolution of the French lower house by Emmanuel Macron on 9 June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=Why has Macron announced snap elections after EU poll defeat? |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/06/10/french-president-emmanuel-macron-announces-anticipated-elections-after-stinging-eu-electio |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref>

==== 2024 legislative election ====
{{Main|2024 French legislative election}}
In June 2024, the party joined with the micro-party "To the right! Friends of Eric Ciotti", forming the [[union of the far-right]] in the [[2024 French legislative election]].<ref name="Barbarit" /> Together, these parties secured the largest share of the vote in the first round with 33.15% of the vote.<ref name="results2024">{{cite web |title=Publication des candidatures et des résultats aux élections |url=https://www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr/legislatives2024/ensemble_geographique/index.html |website=Ministère de l'Intérieur |access-date=30 June 2024 |archive-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630181416/https://www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr/legislatives2024/ensemble_geographique/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> More voters who reported struggling financially voted for the RN than for any other party.<ref>{{cite news |title=French elections: Here's who voted for the different political parties |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/02/french-elections-heres-who-voted-for-the-different-political-parties |access-date=3 July 2024 |publisher=Euronews |date=2 July 2024}}</ref>

Based on their first round performance, the RN will receive around €15 million per year in government subsidies for the next five years: each vote in the first round was worth €1.61 per year to the party.<ref name="Barbarit">{{cite web |title=Législatives : le financement politique des partis, l'autre enjeu du scrutin | url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/legislatives-le-financement-politique-des-partis-lautre-enjeu-du-scrutin |website=Public Sénat |last=Barbarit |first=Simon |date=2024-07-03 |language=fr}}</ref>

According to [[Opinion polling for the 2024 French legislative election|opinion polls]], the National Rally were expected to get 230-270 seats, close to an [[absolute majority]], However, 2–3 days before the second round, the RN were predicted to win around 170-220 seats. After the [[exit polls]] on 7 July, that figure was reduced to 120&ndash;170 seats, and the [[New Popular Front]] were predicted to win 150&ndash;190 seats, slightly ahead of president Macron's [[Together (coalition)|Ensemble]] alliance. Finally, the RN won only 142 seats, ranking third in the election. {{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

== Ideology ==
{{Conservatism in France|Parties}}
The party's ideology has been broadly described by scholars, including [[James Shields (academic)|James Shields]], [[Nonna Mayer]], [[Jean-Yves Camus]], [[Nicolas Lebourg]] and [[Michel Winock]] as [[nationalist]], [[far-right]] (or ''[[Nouvelle Droite]]'') and [[populist]].<ref>Scholarly descriptions:
*{{harvnb|Shields|2007}}
*{{cite web |last=Mayer |first=Nonna |title=From Jean-Marie to Marine Le Pen: Electoral Change on the Far Right |url=http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/content/66/1/160.short |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626004928/http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/content/66/1/160.short |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-06-26 |date=2013 |access-date=31 March 2015 }}
*{{harvnb|Camus|Lebourg|2017}}
*[[Michel Winock|Winock, Michel]] (dir.), [https://books.google.com/books/about/Histoire_de_l_extr%C3%AAme_droite_en_France.html?hl=fr&id=gtsiAQAAIAAJ ''Histoire de l'extrême droite en France''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806235209/https://books.google.com/books/about/Histoire_de_l_extr%C3%AAme_droite_en_France.html?hl=fr&id=gtsiAQAAIAAJ |date=6 August 2020 }} (1993)</ref> Jean-Yves Camus and Nicolas Lebourg, following [[Pierre-André Taguieff]]'s analysis, include the party in an old French tradition of "national populism" that can be traced back to [[Georges Ernest Boulanger|Boulangism]]. National populists combine the social values of the left and the political values of the right and advocate a [[Referendum|referendary]] republic that would bypass traditional political divisions and institutions. Aiming at unity of the political (the ''demos''), ethnic (the ''ethnos''), and social (the ''working class'') interpretations of the "people", they claim to defend the "average Frenchman" and "common sense", against the "betrayal of inevitably corrupt elites".{{sfn|Camus|Lebourg|2017|pp=12–13}} The party has been also described as [[National conservatism|national conservative]].<ref>{{cite web |date=13 April 2015 |title=Jean-Yves Camus |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/politique/2015/04/13/31001-20150413ARTFIG00155-jean-yves-camus-marion-le-pen-incarne-la-ligne-nationale-conservatrice-du-fn.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807213735/http://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/politique/2015/04/13/31001-20150413ARTFIG00155-jean-yves-camus-marion-le-pen-incarne-la-ligne-nationale-conservatrice-du-fn.php |archive-date=7 August 2016 |access-date=5 July 2021 |publisher=Lefigaro.fr}}</ref>

The FN has changed considerably since its foundation, pursuing the principles of modernisation and pragmatism and adapting to the changing political climate.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=309}}{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=115}} Its message increasingly influenced mainstream political parties,{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=115}}{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=312}} and some commentators described it as right-wing, moving closer towards the centre-right.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=313}}{{refn|<ref name="DW-rwfr">{{cite news|date=30 March 2015|title=Victory for France's conservatives in local elections|publisher=Deutsche Welle|agency=AP, AFP, Reuters|url=http://www.dw.com/en/victory-for-frances-conservatives-in-local-elections/a-18348677|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=1 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094302/http://www.dw.com/en/victory-for-frances-conservatives-in-local-elections/a-18348677|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYT-rwfr">{{cite news|last1=Erlanger|first1=Steven|last2=de Freytas-Tamura|first2=Kimiko|date=17 December 2016|title=E.U. Faces Its Next Big Test as France's Election Looms|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/europe/european-union-france-frexit-marine-le-pen.html|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302100409/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/europe/european-union-france-frexit-marine-le-pen.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WSJ-rwfr">{{cite news|last1=Meichtry|first1=Stacy|last2=Bisserbe|first2=Noemie|date=19 August 2015|title=Le Pen Family Drama Splits France's Far Right National Front Party|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-family-drama-splits-far-right-in-france-1440029252|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804051659/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-family-drama-splits-far-right-in-france-1440029252|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Kyle|date=24 January 2017|title=Europeans favoring right-wing populist parties are more positive on Putin|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/24/europeans-favoring-right-wing-populist-parties-are-more-positive-on-putin/|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=4 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104132320/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/24/europeans-favoring-right-wing-populist-parties-are-more-positive-on-putin/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Catherine E. De Vries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDrSDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Right-wing+National+Rally%22&pg=PA2|title=Political Entrepreneurs: The Rise of Challenger Parties in Europe|author2=Sara B. Hobolt|date=2020|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0691194752|location=Princeton, New Jersey, US|page=2}}</ref>}} In the 2010s, the party attempted to "de-demonise" its image and changed its name to National Rally. A 2022 Kanar survey found that 46% of French voters saw Marine Le Pen as "representing a patriotic Right attached to traditional values", although 50% saw her as "a danger to democracy".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Samuel |first=Henry |date=24 April 2022 |title=Who is Marine Le Pen and what are her French election 2022 policies? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/04/24/who-marine-le-pen-what-policies-french-presidential-election/ |access-date=26 June 2023 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref>

=== Society ===
The party opposed the 2016 criminalisation of the use of [[prostitution in France]] on the grounds that it would negatively affect the safety of sex workers.<ref>{{cite web|date=7 April 2016|work=Front National|url=http://www.frontnational.com/2016/04/projet-de-lutte-contre-la-prostitution-la-morale-feministe-depourvue-defficacite/|title=Projet de lutte contre la prostitution: la morale féministe dépourvue d'efficacité|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828184142/http://www.frontnational.com/2016/04/projet-de-lutte-contre-la-prostitution-la-morale-feministe-depourvue-defficacite/|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Feminism ====
In the [[2002 French legislative election|2002 legislative elections]], the first under the new gender parity provision in the French Constitution, Le Pen's [[National Front (France)|National Front]] was among the few parties to come close to meeting the law, with 49% female candidates; Jospin's [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialists]] had 36%, and Chirac's [[Union for a Popular Movement|UMP]] had 19.6%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2011370.stm|title=Le Pen and his feminine side|date=28 May 2002|access-date=24 July 2019|archive-date=12 February 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030212060856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2011370.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Women voters in France were traditionally more attracted to mainstream conservative parties than the radical right until the 2000s. The proportion of women in the party has risen to 39% by 2017.{{sfn|Camus|Lebourg|2017|p=202}}

==== Law and order ====
In 2002, Jean-Marie Le Pen campaigned on a [[Law and order (politics)|law-and-order]] platform of [[zero tolerance]], harsher sentencing, increased prison capacity, and a [[Referendums in France|referendum]] on re-introducing the [[Capital punishment in France|death penalty]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=282}} In its 2001 programme, the party linked the breakdown of law and order to immigration, deeming immigration a "mortal threat to civil peace in France."{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=284}}

Marine Le Pen rescinded the party's traditional support for the death penalty with her 2017 campaign launch, instead announcing support for imprisonment "in perpetuity" for the "worst crimes" in February 2017.<ref>{{cite news|author=Vinocur, Nicholas|title=Marine Le Pen's plan to make France great again|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pens-plan-to-make-france-great-again/|newspaper=Politico Europe|date=4 February 2017|access-date=7 February 2017|archive-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205232607/http://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pens-plan-to-make-france-great-again/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, she proposed to hold a [[referendum]] on [[capital punishment in France]] if she were elected.<ref name=":4">Samuel, Henry (14 April 2022). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/04/14/marine-le-pen-would-hold-referendum-reinstating-death-penalty/ "Marine Le Pen: I would hold a referendum on reinstating the death penalty."] ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''. Retrieved 17 April 2022.</ref><ref>Samuel, Henry (15 April 2022). [https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/le-pen-is-willing-to-hold-death-penalty-referendum-if-she-is-elected-41555474.html "Le Pen is willing to hold death penalty referendum if she is elected."] ''[[Irish Independent]]''. Retrieved 17 April 2022.</ref>

=== Immigration ===
[[File:National Front.gif|thumb|left|2005 FN political poster reading: "Immigrants are going to vote... and you're abstaining?!!"]]
Since its early years, the party has called for immigration to be reduced.{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=177–185}} The theme of exclusion of non-European immigrants was brought into the party in 1978 and became increasingly important in the 1980s.{{sfn|Kitschelt|McGann|1997|p=95}}

After the 1999 split, the FN cultivated a more moderate image on immigration and Islam, no longer calling for the systematic repatriation of legal immigrants but still supporting the deportation of illegal, criminal, or unemployed immigrants.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=315}}

Following the [[Arab Spring]] (2011) rebellions in several countries, Marine Le Pen campaigned for a halt to the migration of Tunisian and Libyan immigrants to Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8369131/Marine-Le-Pen-planning-Italy-trip-to-condemn-North-African-refugees.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|title=Marine Le Pen planning Italy trip to condemn North African refugees|first=Nick|last=Squires|date=8 March 2011|location=Rome|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=11 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311085428/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8369131/Marine-Le-Pen-planning-Italy-trip-to-condemn-North-African-refugees.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2015, the party stated its goal to have a [[Net migration rate|net legal immigration rate]] (immigrants minus emigrants) of 10,000 in France per year. Since 2017, that yearly net immigration rate was around 182,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM?locations=FR|title=Net migration – France &#124; Data|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519024346/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM?locations=FR|url-status=live}}</ref> if one takes into account only people born abroad from non-French parents, but was around 44,000 if one also includes the departures and returns of French expatriates.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.20minutes.fr/politique/1725167-20151105-immigration-fn-precise-objectifs-chiffres-ca-change-beaucoup 'Immigration: Le FN précise ses objectifs chiffrés (et ça change beaucoup)' ('FN defines more precisely its numerical immigration objectives (and that makes a great difference))'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429042305/http://www.20minutes.fr/politique/1725167-20151105-immigration-fn-precise-objectifs-chiffres-ca-change-beaucoup |date=29 April 2017 }}. 20minutes.fr, 5 November 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2016.</ref>

In 2022, Marine Le Pen proposed an end to "family reunification" rights for foreigners with residency permits and the end to the right to automatic citizenship for children born in France to foreigners living there.<ref name=":5" /> She also supported a referendum on immigration policy.<ref name=":4" />

==== Islam ====
The National Rally has sought to restrict Islamic practice in France. In 2011, Marine Le Pen warned that wearing full-face veils is "the tip of the iceberg" of [[Islamisation]] of French culture.<ref name="tnyt">{{cite news |last=Shorto |first=Russell |date=29 April 2011 |title=Marine Le Pen, France's (Kinder, Gentler) Extremist |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/magazine/mag-01LePen-t.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106104811/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/magazine/mag-01LePen-t.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=6 January 2017}}</ref> In 2021,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johannès |first=Franck |date=30 January 2021 |title=Marine Le Pen revendique la " brutalité " contre l'islamisme |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2021/01/30/marine-le-pen-revendique-la-brutalite-contre-l-islamisme_6068202_823448.html |access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> and again in 2022, Le Pen again proposed banning the [[hijab]] (headscarf which only covers the head but not face) in public.<ref name=halal>{{cite news |title='What is the headscarf doing in politics?' Muslim headscarves become issue in French presidential campaign |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-is-the-headscarf-doing-in-politics-muslim-headscarves-become-issue-in-french-presidential-campaign |work=PBS News |date=15 April 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref> Le Pen also proposed to ban the production of both [[halal]] and [[kosher]] meat.<ref name=halal/> Le Pen says she is "against the visibility of Islam" but not Islam per se.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/frances-marine-le-pen-says-shes-not-waging-a-religious-war/|date=5 March 2017|title=France's Marine Le Pen says she's not waging a religious war}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Dutch News|title=Marine Le Pen backs European election alliance with Wilders|date=14 September 2013|url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2013/09/marine_le_pen_backs_european_e/|quote=Le Pen said she and Wilders differ in their approach to Islam. ‘I am against the visibility of Islam in society. We have a tradition of a strict division between church and state so I think religious symbolism has no place in the street. But I have nothing against Islam per se.'}}</ref>
 
The National Rally is considered [[Islamophobic]] by many.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marine Le Pen, Islamophobia, and the polarization of French society |url=https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/post/marine-le-pen-islamophobia-and-polarization-french-society |work=The ILR School {{!}} Cornell University |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Belgacem |first1=Assia |title=Islamophobia is the driving force of the French election – as a Muslim hijabi, neither Macron or Le Pen appeal to me |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/french-elections-le-pen-macron-islam-hijab-b2063222.html |work=The Independent |date=22 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=halal/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chaplin |first1=Emanuelle Degli Esposti,Chris |title=The French culture war over Islam shows no sign of abating |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/4/15/the-french-culture-war-over-islam-shows-no-sign-of-abating |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan-Ruf |first1=Safya |title=Le Pen is bad, but many French Muslims like me don't want to vote for Macron either |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/22/macron-or-le-pen-many-french-muslims-may-say-neither |work=The Guardian |date=22 April 2022}}</ref> The party has connected immigration to Islamic terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nytimes.com/2015/11/18/world/europe/marine-le-pens-anti-islam-message-gains-influence-in-france.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Marine Le Pen's Anti-Islam Message Gains Influence in France|first=Adam|last=Nossiter|date=17 November 2015|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-date=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004065253/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/world/europe/marine-le-pens-anti-islam-message-gains-influence-in-france.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Economy ===
At the end of the 1970s, Jean-Marie Le Pen broke away from the [[anti-capitalist]] heritage of Poujadism and espoused a [[market liberal]] and [[Anti-statism|anti-statist]] programme which included lower taxes, reducing state intervention, reducing the size of the public sector, privatisation, and scaling back government bureaucracy. Some scholars have characterised the FN's 1978 programme as "[[Reaganomics|Reaganite]] before [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]".{{sfn|Kitschelt|McGann|1997|p=95}}

The party's economic policy shifted from the 1980s to the 1990s from [[neoliberalism]] to [[protectionism]].<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/european-elections-2014-marine-le-pens-national-front-victoryin-france-is-based-onanguish-rage-and-denial-9436394.html |title=European elections 2014: Marine Le Pen's Front National victory in France is based on anguish, rage and denial |author=John Lichfield |work=[[The Independent]] |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014 |location=London |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925190202/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/european-elections-2014-marine-le-pens-national-front-victoryin-france-is-based-onanguish-rage-and-denial-9436394.html |url-status=live }}|{{cite news |title=What does France's National Front stand for? |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20140528-france-national-front-policy-eu |work=France 24 |date=28 May 2014}}}}</ref>{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=272}} This occurred within the framework of a changed international environment, from a battle between the [[Free World]] and [[Communist International|Communism]], to one between [[Economic nationalism|nationalism]] and [[globalisation]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=275}} During the 1980s, Jean-Marie Le Pen complained about the rising number of "social parasites" and called for deregulation, tax cuts, and the phasing-out of the [[welfare state]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=272}} As the party gained growing support from the economically vulnerable, it converted towards politics of social welfare and economic protectionism.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=272}} This was part of its shift away from its former claim of being the "social, popular, and national right" to its claim of being "neither right nor left – French!"{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=274}} Increasingly, the party's program became an amalgam of free market and welfare policies. By the 2010s, some political commentators described its economic policies as left-wing.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=275}}<ref name="theconversation.com">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/the-european-far-right-actually-right-or-left-or-something-altogether-different-6796 |title=The European far right: actually right? Or left? Or something altogether different? |website=Theconversation.com |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328211807/http://theconversation.com/the-european-far-right-actually-right-or-left-or-something-altogether-different-6796 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27404016 |title=French National Front: Far right or hard left? |work=BBC News |date=16 May 2014 |author=Henry Astier |access-date=9 December 2015 |archive-date=5 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405221211/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27404016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Under Marine Le Pen, the RN has supported [[economic nationalism]],<ref>{{cite web |date=23 April 2017 |title=Macron-Le Pen face-off: EU supporter vs. economic nationalist |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/23/news/economy/french-election-macron-le-pen-eu-nationalist/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710081832/https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/23/news/economy/french-election-macron-le-pen-eu-nationalist/index.html |archive-date=10 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref> which it calls "economic patriotism", and it has advocated populist policies, such as tax cuts for people under 30 years old, and cuts in the [[value-added tax]] on energy and essential products. The party has supported public services, protectionism, and economic intervention and opposed the increase in the fuel tax in 2018 and the increase in the retirement age in 2023.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Conesa |first=Elsa |date=18 April 2022 |title=Comment Marine Le Pen a abandonné le libéralisme pour un programme " social-populiste " |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2022/article/2022/04/18/comment-marine-le-pen-a-abandonne-le-liberalisme-pour-un-programme-social-populiste_6122621_6059010.html |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brunet |first=Romain |date=29 March 2023 |title=Le Pen's opposition to pension reform, focus on public order 'pays off' in polls |work=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20230329-le-pen-s-opposition-to-pension-reform-focus-on-public-order-pays-off-in-polls |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

Under Jordan Bardella, the RN has adopted more pro-market policies, including lower taxes and simplifying industrial norms.<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/06/27/as-bardella-becomes-more-like-macron-his-party-becomes-more-like-meloni-s_6675984_5.html|date=27 June 2024|title=As Bardella becomes more like Macron, his party becomes more like Meloni's}}</ref> Bardella advocated an audit of public finances as a precursor to determining the 2025 budget.<ref>{{cite news|work=Financial Times|title=France's far-right chief pledges to clean up public finances|date=24 June 2024|url=https://www.ft.com/content/12bfebd8-a069-4169-8900-1955b5d93053}}</ref> Bardella has sought to use these policies to court business support during the [[2024 French legislative election]] campaign.<ref>{{cite news|work=Financial Times|date=18 June 2024|title=French businesses court Marine Le Pen after taking fright at left's policies|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e28f9753-1770-4c8c-91d8-e7bb7ed44feb}}</ref> During this time, Bardella also rescinded the prior RN pledge to repeal the [[2023 French pension reform law]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Monde|title=Bardella goes back on promise to repeal Macron's pension reform|date=12 June 2024|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/06/12/bardella-goes-back-on-promise-to-repeal-macron-s-pension-reform_6674563_5.html}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Le Pen does not plan to withdraw from the [[Paris Climate Agreement]] but has stated that climate change is "not the priority" of the party.<ref name="presidential program"/> The party is against measures to tackle climate change and protecting the environment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-20 |title=French elections: Why is the rejection of environmentalism a driving force behind France's far-right vote? |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/06/20/french-elections-why-is-the-rejection-of-environmentalism-a-driving-force-behind-france-s-far-right-vote_6675235_114.html |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=Le Monde.fr}}</ref> The National Rally has proposed abolition of the [[European Green Deal]], highlighting key policies it opposes such as the 2035 ban on fossil fuel cars.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/french-elections-far-rights-proposals-go-against-the-green-deal/ | title=French elections: Far-right's proposals go against the Green Deal | date=26 June 2024 }}</ref>

=== Foreign policy ===
From the 1980s to the 1990s, the party's policy shifted from favouring the [[European Union]] to turning against it.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=272}} In 2002, Jean-Marie Le Pen campaigned on pulling France out of the EU and re-introducing the [[franc]] as the country's national currency.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=282}} In the early 2000s, the party denounced the [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen]], [[Maastricht Treaty|Maastricht]], and [[Treaty of Amsterdam|Amsterdam]] treaties as foundations for "a supranational entity spelling the end of France."{{sfn|Shields|2007|pp=282 f}} In 2004, the party criticised the EU as "the last stage on the road to [[world government]]", likening it to a "puppet of the [[New World Order (conspiracy theory)|New World Order]]."{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=299}} It also proposed breaking all institutional ties back to the [[Treaty of Rome]] while it returned to supporting a common European currency to rival the United States dollar.{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=299}} Further, it rejected the possible [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|accession of Turkey to the EU]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=299}} The FN was also one of several parties that backed France's 2005 [[2005 French European Constitution referendum|rejection of the Treaty for a European Constitution]]. In other issues, Le Pen opposed the invasions of Iraq, led by the [[United States]], both in the 1991 [[Gulf War]] and the 2003 [[Iraq War]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=315}} He visited [[Saddam Hussein]] in [[Baghdad]] in 1990 and subsequently considered him a friend.<ref name=tnyt2 />

Marine Le Pen advocated France leaving the [[euro]], although that policy was dropped in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2019/01/16/01002-20190116ARTFIG00326-le-rn-abandonne-la-sortie-de-l-euro.php|title=Le Rassemblement national abandonne définitivement la sortie de l'euro|date=16 January 2019|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=20 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120200141/https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2019/01/16/01002-20190116ARTFIG00326-le-rn-abandonne-la-sortie-de-l-euro.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE72J1IZ20110320|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324093424/http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE72J1IZ20110320|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 March 2011|work=Reuters|title=France's Le Pen wants France, Greece, Spain to ditch euro|first=George|last=Georgiopoulos|date=20 March 2011|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> She also intends to reintroduce [[Customs area|customs borders]] and has campaigned against allowing [[dual citizenship]].<ref name="spiegel">{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772875,00.html|title=Madame Rage|work=[[Der Spiegel]]|date=7 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|first=Mathieu von|last=Rohr|archive-date=30 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730065634/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772875,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During both the [[2010–2011 Ivorian crisis]] and the [[2011 Libyan civil war]], she opposed the French military involvements.<ref name=tnyt /> However, the party supported the 2013 [[Operation Serval]] in Mali against Islamist militants in the country because it was at the request of the Malian government.<ref>{{cite news|work=Voice of America|title=French Military Operations in Africa Unpopular at Home|quote= Le Pen says she supported the intervention in Mali, because the Malians asked France to step in|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/french-military-operations-in-africa-unpopular-at-home/1829628.html}}</ref>

Le Pen has praised Egyptian President [[Abdel Fattah El-Sisi]] for "fighting radical Islam", stating that Egypt's "ability to separate extremist Islam from the religion sets an example to the rest of the world, including France, of how to deal with poisonous ideologies".<ref>{{cite news|work=The New Arab|title=French far-right leader praises 'model' state Egypt for 'fighting radical Islam'|date=15 December 2020|url=https://www.newarab.com/news/french-far-right-leader-praises-egypt-fighting-radical-islam}}</ref> The party has also favourably contrasted the [[United Arab Emirates]]'s opposition to Islamism with the more pro-Islamist position taken by [[Qatar]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Figaro|quote=Les responsables du Front national érigent volontiers les Émirats en contre-exemple du Qatar, accusé de financer le fondamentalisme islamiste.|title=En quête de finances pour 2017, le FN fait les yeux doux aux Émirats arabes unis|date=25 October 2016|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/le-scan/coulisses/2016/10/24/25006-20161024ARTFIG00134-en-quete-de-finances-pour-2017-le-fn-fait-les-yeux-doux-aux-emirats-arabes-unis.php}}</ref> The party has advocated closer [[France–Morocco relations]], criticising Macron's attempts to deepen ties with Algeria.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://observalgerie.com/2023/10/17/politique/marine-le-pen-algerie-maroc/ | title=Le parti de Marine le Pen s'attaque à l'Algérie et fait l'éloge du Maroc | date=17 October 2023 }}</ref> In January 2023, the National Rally was one of only four parties in the European Parliament that voted against a resolution condemning Morocco's treatment of journalist [[Omar Radi]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://howtheyvote.eu/votes/152265 | title=Vote results: Resolution on the situation of journalists in Morocco, notably the case of Omar Radi | date=19 January 2023 }}</ref> It praised the 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the [[Western Sahara]] and suggested the French government should have acted sooner.<ref>{{cite news|work=Morocco World News|title='A Historic Moment': How French Politicians Reacted to France's New Stance on Western Sahara|date=31 July 2024|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/07/364254/a-historic-moment-how-french-politicians-reacted-to-frances-new-stance-on-western-sahara}}</ref>

Le Pen supports the restoration of [[France-Syria relations]] and called for cooperation with Israel, the United States, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia to support the economic recovery of Lebanon from the [[Lebanese economic crisis (2019-present)|Lebanese economic crisis]]. The party supports a [[two-state solution]] to the [[Israel-Palestine conflict]] and welcomed the [[Abraham Accords]].<ref name="presidential program">{{cite news|work=Euractiv|url=https://www.euractiv.fr/section/elections/news/presidentielle-les-principaux-points-du-programme-diplomatique-de-marine-le-pen/|title=Présidentielle : les principaux points du programme diplomatique de Marine Le Pen|date=14 April 2022}}</ref> The party has shifted towards more [[pro-Israel]] policies over time, particularly following the [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite web|work=New York Sun|title=Leader of France's Rightist Party, Marine Le Pen, in a Sharp Turn After Attack by Hamas, Voices Strong Support for Israel|date=8 October 2023|url=https://www.nysun.com/article/leader-of-frances-rightist-party-marine-le-pen-in-a-sharp-turn-after-attack-by-hamas-voices-strong-support-for-israel}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Politico|title=Marine Le Pen courts French Jews as far left refuses to condemn Hamas|date=October 22, 2023|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/france-marine-le-pen-courts-french-jews-in-wake-of-hamas-attacks-israel/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=BFM TV|date=5 November 2023|title=Israël: "Je souhaite que nous puissions nous y rendre dans les prochains temps", affirme Jordan Bardella|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/front-national/israel-je-souhaite-que-nous-puissions-nous-y-rendre-dans-les-prochains-temps-affirme-jordan-bardella_VN-202311050397.html}}</ref> Bardella has expressed opposition to recognition of Palestinian statehood following the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]], on the grounds that this would be "recognising terrorism".<ref>{{cite news|work=Middle East Eye|title=France's far-right leader 'unfavourable to recognition of Palestinian state'|date=24 June 2024|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/frances-far-right-leader-unfavourable-recognition-palestinian-state}}</ref> Following the [[2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon]], Le Pen suggested that a ceasefire would be impossible without the "dismantling" of [[Hezbollah]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Times of Israel|title=Pour Marine le Pen, un cessez-le-feu passe par un " démantèlement " du Hezbollah|date=29 September 2024|url=https://fr.timesofisrael.com/pour-marine-le-pen-un-cessez-le-feu-passe-par-un-demantelement-du-hezbollah/}}</ref>

==== Russia and Ukraine ====
Marine Le Pen described Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] as a "defender of the Christian heritage of European civilisation."<ref name="Ind141127">{{cite news|last=Lichfield|first=John|date=27 November 2014|title=€40m of Russian cash will allow Marine Le Pen's Front National to take advantage of rivals' woes in upcoming regional and presidential elections|work=[[The Independent]]|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/40m-of-russian-cash-will-allow-marine-le-pens-front-national-to-take-advantage-of-rivals-woes-in-upcoming-regional-and-presidential-elections-9888509.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211084552/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/40m-of-russian-cash-will-allow-marine-le-pens-front-national-to-take-advantage-of-rivals-woes-in-upcoming-regional-and-presidential-elections-9888509.html|archive-date=11 February 2015}}</ref> The National Front considers that [[Ukraine]] has been subjugated by the [[United States]], through the [[Revolution of Dignity]]. The National Front denounces anti-Russian feelings in Eastern Europe and the submission of Western Europe to "Washington's" interests in the region.<ref>[http://www.frontnational.com/2014/12/lukraine-de-louest-desormais-ouvertement-vassalisee-par-washington/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706153814/http://www.frontnational.com/2014/12/lukraine-de-louest-desormais-ouvertement-vassalisee-par-washington/|date=6 July 2015}}</ref> Marine Le Pen is very critical against the threats of sanctions directed by the international community against Russia: "European countries should seek a solution through diplomacy rather than making threats that could lead to an escalation." She argues that the United States is leading a [[Second Cold War|new Cold War]] against Russia. She sees no other solution for peace in Ukraine than to organise a kind of federation that would allow each region a large degree of autonomy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/ukraine-la-revolte/20140304.OBS8508/ukraine-de-melenchon-a-le-pen-qu-en-disent-les-politiques-francais.html |title=UKRAINE. De Mélenchon à Le Pen, qu'en disent les politiques français ?- 5 mars 2014 – L'Obs |date=5 March 2014 |publisher=Tempsreel.nouvelobs.com |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=17 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217165617/http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/ukraine-la-revolte/20140304.OBS8508/ukraine-de-melenchon-a-le-pen-qu-en-disent-les-politiques-francais.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She thinks Ukraine should be sovereign and free as any other nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/marine_le_pen_ukraines_association_with_eu___best_option_305625 |title=Marine Le Pen: Ukraine s association with EU – best option&#124; Ukrinform |publisher=Ukrinform.ua |date=26 June 2013 |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=8 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308061856/http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/marine_le_pen_ukraines_association_with_eu___best_option_305625 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Luke Harding]] wrote in ''[[The Guardian]]'' that the National Front's [[members of the European Parliament|MEPs]] were a "pro-Russian bloc."<ref name="GN141208">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/08/russia-europe-right-putin-front-national-eu |title=We should beware Russia's links with Europe's right |first=Luke |last=Harding |work=The Guardian |date=8 December 2014 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=1 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201172522/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/08/russia-europe-right-putin-front-national-eu |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, the ''[[Nouvel Observateur]]'' said that the Russian government considered the National Front "capable of seizing power in France and changing the course of European history in Moscow's favour."<ref name="NO141127">{{cite news |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/politique/20141024.OBS3131/poutine-et-le-fn-revelations-sur-les-reseaux-russes-des-le-pen.html |title=Poutine et le FN : révélations sur les réseaux russes des Le Pen |first=Vincent |last=Jauvert |work=[[Le Nouvel Observateur]] |date=27 November 2014 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129225605/http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/politique/20141024.OBS3131/poutine-et-le-fn-revelations-sur-les-reseaux-russes-des-le-pen.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the French media, party leaders had frequent contact with Russian ambassador Alexander Orlov and Marine Le Pen made multiple trips to [[Moscow]].<ref name="BD141123">{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20141123-france-far-right-turns-russian-lender-national-front-marine-le-pen/ |title=France's cash-strapped far right turns to Russian lender |first=Benjamin |last=Dodman |work=France24 |date=23 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129205458/http://www.france24.com/en/20141123-france-far-right-turns-russian-lender-national-front-marine-le-pen/ |archive-date=29 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2015, one of her advisers, [[Emmanuel Leroy]], attended an event in Donetsk marking the "independence" of the self-proclaimed [[Donetsk People's Republic]].<ref name="DB150514">{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/14/marine-le-pen-s-closest-advisor-comes-out-of-the-shadows-in-donetsk.html |title=Marine Le Pen's Closest Advisor Comes Out of the Shadows in Donetsk |first=Pierre |last=Vaux |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=14 May 2015 |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516222633/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/14/marine-le-pen-s-closest-advisor-comes-out-of-the-shadows-in-donetsk.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The RN remains divided on relations with Russia, with Bardella stating that he believed Russia threatened French security. At the same time, [[Thierry Mariani]] suggested it was not a threat to France or Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/french-far-right-party-divided-over-putins-non-invitation-to-d-day-anniversary/|work=Euractiv|title=French far-right party divided over Putin's non-invitation to D-Day anniversary|date=6 June 2024}}</ref> The more pro-Russian Mariani has been described as in conflict with [[Pierre-Romain Thionnet]], who has advocated a more pro-Ukrainian line, with Bardella maintaining a balance between the two positions.<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Monde|title=The French far right's slow re-alignment on Ukraine|date=3 January 2025|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2025/01/03/the-french-far-right-s-slow-re-alignment-on-ukraine_6736661_5.html}}</ref>

During the [[2022 French presidential election]], Le Pen supported sending non-lethal defensive aid to Ukraine in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], but not heavy weapons that would make France a "co-belligerent" in the conflict.<ref name="presidential program"/> Similarly, Bardella has expressed support for defense equipment, ammunition, and logistical assistance to Ukraine but maintains opposition to giving long-range missiles to Ukraine or deploying French soldiers there.<ref>{{cite news|work=Politico|title=Bardella: No troops or long-range missiles to Ukraine|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/france-jordan-bardella-backs-sending-ammo-to-ukraine-not-troops-long-range-missiles-defense-spending/|date=19 June 2024}}</ref> He is also opposed to Ukrainian NATO membership, suggesting it could escalate the war.<ref>{{cite news|work=Ukrinform|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3886165-leader-of-french-farright-in-ep-stands-against-condemning-orbans-peace-initiatives.html|title=Leader of French far-right in EP stands against condemning Orbán's "peace initiatives"|date=17 July 2024}}</ref>

==== European Union ====
Since their entry into the European Parliament in 1979, the National Rally has promoted a message of being pro-Europe but anti-EU.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lorimer|first=Marta|date=2020|title=Europe as ideological resource: the case of the Rassemblement National|journal=Journal of European Public Policy|volume=27|issue=9|pages=1388–1405|doi=10.1080/13501763.2020.1754885|hdl=10871/120863 |s2cid=219020617|issn=1350-1763|hdl-access=free}}</ref> However, in 2019, the proposal that France leave the [[Eurozone]] and the EU was removed from the party's manifesto, which has since called for "reform from within" of the union.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite news |title=European far right hails Brexit vote |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/24/european-far-right-hails-britains-brexit-vote-marine-le-pen |work=the Guardian |date=24 June 2016}}|{{cite news |title=European elections 2019 – as it happened |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ea2d07f2-1ae2-3ea2-921b-2f706342bf35 |work=Financial Times |date=27 May 2019}}|{{cite news |title=EU vote may shift power in main euro zone states, stall integration |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-election-economy-idUSKCN1SU1DV |work=Reuters |date=24 May 2019}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Le Rassemblement national abandonne définitivement la sortie de l'euro|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2019/01/16/01002-20190116ARTFIG00326-le-rn-abandonne-la-sortie-de-l-euro.php|website=lefigaro.fr|date=16 January 2019|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=20 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120200141/https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2019/01/16/01002-20190116ARTFIG00326-le-rn-abandonne-la-sortie-de-l-euro.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/retreating-eurosceptics-now-settle-for-reforms-from-within/|title = Retreating Eurosceptics now settle for 'reforms from within'|date = 6 November 2019|access-date = 23 April 2021|archive-date = 23 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210423063719/https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/retreating-eurosceptics-now-settle-for-reforms-from-within/|url-status = live}}</ref> The party advocates that EU legislation should be initiated by the [[Council of the European Union|Council of the EU]] rather than the [[European Commission]], and that French laws should have primacy over EU laws.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

==== NATO ====
The party's stance on NATO has varied throughout the years. Under Jean-Marie Le Pen's leadership, the party advocated a complete withdrawal from the organization, while under Marine Le Pen's leadership, the party has softened its stance to advocate leaving NATO's integrated military command structure, which France joined in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.estrepublicain.fr/elysee-2012/2012/01/08/l-otan-vue-par-marine-le-pen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519012527/https://www.estrepublicain.fr/elysee-2012/2012/01/08/l-otan-vue-par-marine-le-pen|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 May 2021|title=L'OTAN vue par Marine le Pen|access-date=6 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/article/2017/03/14/asselineau-le-pen-dupont-aignan-melenchon-quatre-nuances-de-souverainisme_5094146_4854003.html|title=Asselineau, le Pen, Dupont-Aignan, Mélenchon… quatre nuances de souverainisme|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=14 March 2017|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519012523/https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/article/2017/03/14/asselineau-le-pen-dupont-aignan-melenchon-quatre-nuances-de-souverainisme_5094146_4854003.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/blogsecretdefense/Ce-que-Marine-Le-Pen-propose-pour-la-defense_a445.html|title=Ce que Marine le Pen propose pour la défense|access-date=7 November 2021|archive-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113201726/https://www.marianne.net/blogsecretdefense/Ce-que-Marine-Le-Pen-propose-pour-la-defense_a445.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web |url=http://www.politics.as.nyu.edu/docs/IO/5628/Aldrich_2013.pdf |title=Economic Voting and the national Front: Towards a Subregional Understanding of the Extreme-Right |publisher=Politics.as.nyu.edu |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075311/http://www.politics.as.nyu.edu/docs/IO/5628/Aldrich_2013.pdf |url-status=live }}|{{cite web |url=http://www.enquete-debat.fr/archives/marine-le-pen-entre-souverainisme-et-identitarisme-68403 |title=Marine Le Pen, entre souverainisme et identitarisme |publisher=Enquete&Debat |date=23 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307114258/http://www.enquete-debat.fr/archives/marine-le-pen-entre-souverainisme-et-identitarisme-68403 |archive-date=7 March 2016}}}}</ref> [[Jordan Bardella]] later added that the RN would not advocate withdrawing France from the integrated command while the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] was ongoing.<ref>{{cite news|work=AP|url=https://apnews.com/article/france-election-jordan-bardella-nato-37ddf1a661df6d10441d33dcad6c3bf4|title=Far-right leader Bardella backpedals on taking France out of NATO strategic military command|date=19 June 2024}}</ref>

=== Electoral reform and referendums ===
The National Rally has advocated for full [[proportional representation]] in France, claiming that the [[two-round system]] disenfranchises voters. In early 2021, Marine Le Pen, along with centrist politician [[François Bayrou]] and green politician [[Julien Bayou]], cosigned a letter asking President Emmanuel Macron to implement proportional representation for future elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/proportionnelle-bayrou-poursuit-l-offensive-et-ecrit-a-macron-04-02-2021-2412665_20.php|title=Proportionnelle: Bayrou, Bayou, le Pen et Lagarde écrivent à Macron|date=4 February 2021|access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501022644/https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/proportionnelle-bayrou-poursuit-l-offensive-et-ecrit-a-macron-04-02-2021-2412665_20.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party advocates referendums on key issues such as the death penalty, immigration policy, and constitutional change. In 2022, Marine Le Pen stated: "I want the referendum to become a classic operating tool."<ref name=":4" />

== Controversies ==
=== Opinions on the holocaust, and relations with Jewish groups ===
There has been a difference between Marine Le Pen's and her father's opinions concerning the [[Holocaust]] and Jews. In 2005, Jean-Marie Le Pen wrote in the far-right weekly magazine ''[[Rivarol (magazine)|Rivarol]]'' that the German occupation of France "was not particularly inhumane, even if there were a few blunders, inevitable in a country of 640,000 square kilometres (250,000 sq. mi.)" and in 1987 referred to the [[Nazi gas chambers]] as "a point of detail of the history of the [[Second World War]]". He has repeated the latter claim several times.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.france24.com/en/20090325-jean-marie-le-pen-repeats-gas-chambers-detail-slur-european-parliament |publisher=France 24 |title=Le Pen repeats slur that Nazi gas chambers were a 'detail' |date=27 March 2009 |access-date=3 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903042534/http://www.france24.com/en/20090325-jean-marie-le-pen-repeats-gas-chambers-detail-slur-european-parliament |archive-date= 3 September 2013}}</ref>  In 2004, Bruno Gollnisch said: "I do not question the existence of [[Nazi concentration camps|concentration camps]], but historians could discuss the number of deaths. As to the existence of gas chambers, it is up to historians to determine".{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=308}} Jean-Marie Le Pen was fined for these remarks, but Gollnisch was found not guilty by the [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3224,36-794895@51-776560,0.html |title= Jean-Marie Le Pen renvoyé devant la justice pour ses propos sur l'Occupation|work= [[Le Monde]] |date= 13 July 2006|access-date= 5 July 2011 |language= fr|archive-date= 20 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720121511/http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3224,36-794895@51-776560,0.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="holocauste">{{cite news |url=http://www.lexpress.fr/info/quotidien/actu.asp?id=8443 |title=Bruno Gollnisch condamné pour ses propos sur l'Holocauste |work= [[L'Express (France)|L'Express]] |agency= Reuters |date= 18 January 2007|access-date=18 January 2007|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930223053/http://www.lexpress.fr/info/quotidien/actu.asp?id=8443|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualite/societe/20090624.OBS1737/bruno-gollnisch-blanchi-par-la-cour-de-cassation.html|title=Bruno Gollnisch blanchi par la Cour de cassation |work= [[Le Nouvel Observateur]]|date=24 June 2009|language=fr|access-date=5 July 2011|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107123118/https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20090624.OBS1737/bruno-gollnisch-blanchi-par-la-cour-de-cassation.html |url-status= live}}</ref>  The leader of the party, Marine Le Pen, distanced herself for a time from the party machine in protest at her father's comments.{{sfn |Shields|2007|p= 317}} In response to her father's remarks, Marine Le Pen referred to the Holocaust as the "abomination of abominations".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/04/03/detail-de-l-histoire-marine-le-pen-en-desaccord-profond-avec-son-pere_4609050_823448.html |title= " Détail de l'histoire " : Marine le Pen en " désaccord profond " avec son père|newspaper= Le Monde |date= 3 April 2015|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519030227/https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/04/03/detail-de-l-histoire-marine-le-pen-en-desaccord-profond-avec-son-pere_4609050_823448.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

During the 2012 presidential election, Marine Le Pen sought the support of Jewish people in France.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20111214-national-front-goes-all-out-jewish-vote |title=The National Front and the quest for the Jewish vote |last=Boitiaux |first=Charlotte |date= 14 December 2011 |publisher=France 24 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-date=30 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230191348/http://www.france24.com/en/20111214-national-front-goes-all-out-jewish-vote |url-status=live }}</ref> Interviewed by the [[Israel]]i [[daily newspaper]] ''[[Haaretz]]'' about the fact that some of her European senior colleagues had formed alliances with, and visited, some Israeli settlers and groups, Marine Le Pen said: <blockquote>The shared concern about radical Islam explains the relationship ... but it is possible that behind it is also the need of the visitors from Europe to change their image in their countries ... As far as their partners in Israel are concerned, I myself don't understand the idea of continuing to develop the [[Israeli settlement|settlements]]. I consider it a political mistake and would like to make it clear in this context that we must have the right to [[Criticism of the Israeli government|criticise the policy of the State of Israel]] – just as we are allowed to criticise any sovereign country – without it being considered [[Antisemitism in France|anti-Semitism]]. After all, the National Front has always been [[Zionism|Zionistic]] and always defended Israel's right to exist.</blockquote> She has opposed the emigration of French Jews to Israel in response to radical Islam, explaining: "The Jews of France are Frenchmen, they're at home here, and they must stay here and not emigrate. The country is obligated to provide solutions against the development of radical Islam in problematic areas".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/the-daughter-as-de-demonizer-1.335743|title=The daughter as de-demonizer|last=Primor|first=Adar|date=7 January 2011|work=Haaretz|access-date=7 January 2011|archive-date=11 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111064837/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/the-daughter-as-de-demonizer-1.335743|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Czecho-Russian bank loan ===
In November 2014, Marine Le Pen confirmed that the party had received a €9 million loan from the First Czech Russian Bank (FCRB) in Moscow to the National Front.<ref>{{cite news|title=Europe is trying to keep Russia from influencing its elections|url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21720665-france-and-germany-fear-propaganda-and-espionage-favouring-pro-kremlin-candidates-europe-trying|access-date=14 April 2017|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=12 April 2017|archive-date=13 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413184953/http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21720665-france-and-germany-fear-propaganda-and-espionage-favouring-pro-kremlin-candidates-europe-trying|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MP141127">{{cite news |url=http://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/271114/far-right-front-nationals-russian-loan-31-mln-euros-more-follow |title=Far-right Front National's Russian loan: '31 mln euros more to follow' |work=[[Mediapart]] |first=Marine |last=[[Marine Turchi|Turchi]] |date=27 November 2014 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=14 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114091645/https://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/271114/far-right-front-nationals-russian-loan-31-mln-euros-more-follow |url-status=live }}</ref> Senior FN officials from the party's political bureau informed [[Mediapart]] that this was the first instalment of a €40 million loan, although Marine Le Pen has disputed this.{{r|Ind141127}}{{r|MP141127}} ''[[The Independent]]'' said the loans "take Moscow's attempt to influence the internal politics of the EU to a new level".{{r|Ind141127}} [[Reinhard Bütikofer]] stated, "It's remarkable that a political party from the motherland of freedom can be funded by Putin's sphere—the largest European enemy of freedom".<ref name="DW141129">{{cite news |url=http://www.dw.de/is-the-kremlin-financing-europes-right-wing-populists/a-18101352 |title=Is the Kremlin financing Europe's right-wing populists? |first=Sabrina |last=Pabst |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=16 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216001401/http://www.dw.de/is-the-kremlin-financing-europes-right-wing-populists/a-18101352 |url-status=live }}</ref> Marine Le Pen argued that it was not a [[donation]] from the Russian government but a loan from a private Russian bank because no other bank would give her a loan. This loan is meant to prepare future electoral campaigns and to be repaid progressively. Marine Le Pen has publicly disclosed all the rejection letters that French banks have sent to her concerning her loan requests.<ref name="leparisien1">{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/pret-russe-au-fn-marine-le-pen-publie-les-refus-des-banques-francaises-08-12-2014-4357529.php|title=Prêt russe au FN : Marine Le Pen publie les refus des banques françaises|date=8 December 2014|website=[[Le Parisien]]|access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317171026/http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/pret-russe-au-fn-marine-le-pen-publie-les-refus-des-banques-francaises-08-12-2014-4357529.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Since November 2014, she insists that if a French bank agrees to give her a loan, she would break her contract with the FCBR, but she has not received any other counter-propositions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2014/11/23/marine-le-pen-justifie-le-pret-russe-du-fn_4528041_823448.html|title=Marine Le Pen justifie le prêt russe du FN|last=Mestre|first=Abel|date=23 November 2014|work=Le Monde|access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=26 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326234351/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2014/11/23/marine-le-pen-justifie-le-pret-russe-du-fn_4528041_823448.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Le Pen accused the banks of collusion with the government.<ref name="leparisien1" /> In April 2015, a Russian hacker group published texts and emails between Timur Prokopenko, a member of Putin's administration, and Konstantin Rykov, a former Duma deputy with ties to France, discussing Russian financial support to the National Front in exchange for its support of [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea]], though this has not coalesced.<ref name="Monde150403">{{cite news |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2015/04/02/fn-des-hackers-russes-devoilent-des-echanges-au-kremlin_4608660_4355770.html |title=Financement du FN : des hackers russes dévoilent des échanges au Kremlin |language=fr |trans-title=Financing of the National Front: Russian hackers unveil contacts with the Kremlin |work=[[Le Monde]] |date=3 April 2015 |access-date=4 April 2015 |archive-date=4 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404133319/http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2015/04/02/fn-des-hackers-russes-devoilent-des-echanges-au-kremlin_4608660_4355770.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Links with banned neo-fascist group ===
A 2019 undercover investigation by [[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] uncovered links between high-ranking National Rally figures and [[Generation Identity]], a far-right group. In secretly taped conversations, RN leaders endorsed goals of Generation Identity and discussed plans to "remigrate" immigrants, effectively sending them back to their countries of origin, if the RN came to power. [[Christelle Lechevalier]], a RN Member of the European Parliament (MEP), said that many RN leaders held similar opinions as the GI, but sought to hide them from voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/france-national-rally-links-violent-group-revealed-181216092409471.html|title=France's National Rally links to violent far-right group revealed|last=Harrison|first=David|website=Al Jazeera|access-date=6 September 2019|quote=Lechevalier said that most National Front politicians, and most of its leaders, held similar views as the GI. But they had to hide them from voters, she said. "We need the greatest number of people to come to our side to obtain the highest vote, in order to win,' she said. 'Then we can do what we want when we are in power.'|archive-date=2 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902152210/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/france-national-rally-links-violent-group-revealed-181216092409471.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Payment of party officials with EU funds ===
{{main|National Rally assistants affair}}
In December 2023, 28 people, including [[Marine Le Pen]] and her father [[Jean Marie Le Pen|Jean Marie]], were ordered to stand trial after they were charged with a scheme which involved paying National Rally party officials through [[European Union|EU]] funds which were earmarked for [[European Parliament]] assistants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/frances-marine-le-pen-to-face-trial-over-spending-e41ced4e|title=France's Marine Le Pen to Face Trial Over Spending|first=Nick|last=Kostov|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=December 8, 2023|accessdate=December 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-far-right-leader-marine-le-pen-stand-trial-over-alleged-misuse-eu-funds-2023-12-08/|title=French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to stand trial over alleged misuse of EU funds|publisher=Reuters|date=December 8, 2023|accessdate=December 10, 2023}}</ref>

On 31 March 2025, 25 National Rally members (including Le Pen, 9 other former NR MEPs, and 12 assistants) were found guilty. The sentences for Le Pen and several former MEPs included bans from running for political office.<ref name="Gdn31325">{{cite news |last1=Chrisafis |first1=Angelique |title=Marine Le Pen attacks ban on French presidency run as a 'political decision' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/31/marine-le-pen-barred-from-running-for-french-presidency-in-2027|quote=Le Pen and 24 party members, including nine former members of the European parliament and their 12 parliamentary assistants, were found guilty of a vast scheme over many years to embezzle European parliament funds. |access-date=1 April 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=31 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="TelegraphConviction">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/marine-le-pen-ban-french-politics-court-case/|title=Marine Le Pen banned from politics|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=31 March 2025|last=Samuel|first=Henry}}</ref><ref name="France24Conviction">{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250331-%F0%9F%94%B4-french-court-convicts-far-right-leader-marine-le-pen-in-embezzlement-trial|title=French Court bans far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office|publisher=[[France 24]]|date=31 March 2025}}</ref>

== Organization ==

=== Leadership ===
The executive bureau features: [[Jordan Bardella]] (president), [[Steeve Briois]] (vice-president), [[Louis Aliot]] (vice-president), [[David Rachline]] (vice-president), [[Kévin Pfeffer]] (treasurer), [[Julien Sanchez]] (spokesperson),  [[Gilles Pennelle]] (regional councilor), [[Edwige Diaz]] (deputy regional councilor), [[Hélène Laporte]], [[Philippe Olivier]], and [[Jean-Paul Garraud]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rassemblementnational.fr/instances/bureau-executif/|title=Bureau Exécutif|website=Rassemblement National|access-date=31 August 2019|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616205912/https://rassemblementnational.fr/instances/bureau-executif/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Presidents ====
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|-
!No
!President
!{{nowrap|Term start}}
!{{nowrap|Term end}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|1
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Jean-marie le pen cropped.jpg|120px]]<br />[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
|5 October 1972
|15 January 2011
|-
|colspan="2"|Jean-Marie Le Pen founded the ''National Front for French Unity'' party in 1972 and contested the Presidency of France in [[1974 French presidential election|1974]], [[1988 French presidential election|1988]], [[1995 French presidential election|1995]], [[2002 French presidential election|2002]] and [[2007 French presidential election|2007]]. He served several terms as a deputy of the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly of France]] and a [[Member of the European Parliament]]. He later served as the party's honorary president from January 2011 to August 2015.<ref name=":0" /> He died on 7 January 2025 at the age of 96.<ref>{{cite news |date= 7 January 2025 |title= Jean-Marie Le Pen: French far-right leader dies aged 96 |url= https://www.itv.com/news/2025-01-07/jean-marie-le-pen-french-far-right-leader-dies-aged-96 |work= ITV News |access-date= 8 January 2025}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|2
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Marine Le Pen 2022 (cropped).jpg|120px]]<br />[[Marine Le Pen]]
|15 January 2011
|5 November 2022
|-
|colspan="2"|Marine Le Pen took over as the president of the party in 2011 and contested the [[2012 French presidential election|2012]], [[2017 French presidential election|2017]] and [[2022 French presidential election|2022]] French presidential elections. She served as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] from 2004 to 2017 and has served as a deputy of the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly of France]] since 2017. Under her leadership, the party was renamed ''National Rally'' in 2018.
|-
!rowspan="2"|3
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Jordan Bardella (July 2022).jpg|120px]]<br />[[Jordan Bardella]]
|5 November 2022<BR>''<small>Acting since 13 September 2021</small>''
|Incumbent
|-
|colspan="2"|Jordan Bardella became acting president of the party after Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign in September 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Présidentielle 2022 : Marine Le Pen cède la tête du RN à Jordan Bardella et lance sa campagne |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/presidentielle-2022-marine-le-pen-cede-la-tete-du-rn-a-jordan-bardella-et-lance-sa-campagne-1631446223 |work=ici, par France Bleu et France 3 |date=12 September 2021 |language=fr}}</ref> He was elected president in November 2022.
|}

==== Vice Presidents ====
The party had five vice presidents between July 2012 and March 2018 (against three previously).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2012/07/12/97001-20120712FILWWW00558-f-philippot-devient-vice-president-du-fn.php|title=F. Philippot becomes a vice president of the FN|last=AFP|date=12 July 2012|newspaper=Le Figaro|access-date=11 November 2013|language=fr|archive-date=26 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926063330/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2012/07/12/97001-20120712FILWWW00558-f-philippot-devient-vice-president-du-fn.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{ill|Alain Jamet|fr|Alain Jamet}}, first vice president (2011–2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/membres/alain-jamet/|title=Alain Jamet: Functions in the party|website=Rassemblement National|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113934/http://www.frontnational.com/membres/alain-jamet/|archive-date=11 November 2013|access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Louis Aliot]], in charge of training and demonstrations (2011–2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/membres/louis-aliot/|title=Louis Aliot: Functions in the party|website=Rassemblement National|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110152933/http://www.frontnational.com/membres/louis-aliot/|archive-date=10 November 2013|access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Marie-Christine Arnautu]], in charge of social affairs (2011–2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/membres/marie-christine-arnautu/|title=Marie-Christine Arnautu: Functions in the party|website=Rassemblement National|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014231944/http://www.frontnational.com/membres/marie-christine-arnautu/|archive-date=14 October 2014|access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Jean-François Jalkh]], in charge of elections and electoral litigations (2012–2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/membres/jean-francois-jalkh/|title=Jean-François Jalkh: Functions in the party|website=Rassemblement National|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113851/http://www.frontnational.com/membres/jean-francois-jalkh/|archive-date=11 November 2013|access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Florian Philippot]], in charge of strategy and communication (2012–2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontnational.com/membres/florian-philippot/|title=Florian Philippot: Functions in the party|website=Rassemblement National|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113931/http://www.frontnational.com/membres/florian-philippot/|archive-date=11 November 2013|access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Steeve Briois]], in charge of local executives and supervision (2014–2018)<ref>AFP (30 November 2014) [http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2014/11/30/marine-le-pen-rempile-a-la-tete-du-fn_1153689 Marine Le Pen rempile à la tête du FN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509135812/http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2014/11/30/marine-le-pen-rempile-a-la-tete-du-fn_1153689 |date=9 May 2015 }} {{in lang|fr}} ''[[Libération]]''</ref>
* [[Jordan Bardella]], (2019–2022)

In March 2018, the position of vice-president replaced that of General Secretary.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.france-politique.fr/organigramme-fn.htm|title=Organigramme du Front National FN|last=De Boissieu|first=Laurent|website=France Politique|issn=1765-2898|access-date=31 August 2019|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831115616/https://www.france-politique.fr/organigramme-fn.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It became a duo in June 2019:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/jordan-bardella-promu-2e-vice-president-du-rn-20190616|title=Jordan Bardella promu 2e vice-président du Rassemblement national|last=AFP|date=16 June 2019|website=Le Figaro|access-date=31 August 2019|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831171353/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/jordan-bardella-promu-2e-vice-president-du-rn-20190616|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Louis Aliot]]
* [[David Rachline]]
* [[Steeve Briois]] (2018–2022)
* [[Hélène Laporte]] (2022–present)

==== General Secretaries ====
The position of General Secretary was held between 1972 and 2018:<ref name=":0"/>
* Alain Robert (1972–1973)
* [[Dominique Chaboche]] (1973–1976)
* [[Victor Barthélemy]] (1976–1978)
* Alain Renault (1978–1980)
* Pierre Gérard (1980–1981)
* [[Jean-Pierre Stirbois]] (1981–1988)
* [[Carl Lang]] (1988–1995)
* [[Bruno Gollnisch]] (1995–2005)
* [[Louis Aliot]] (2005–2010)
* [[Jean-François Jalkh]] (2010–2011; interim period during the internal campaign)
* [[Steeve Briois]] (2011–2014)
* [[Nicolas Bay]] (2014–2017)
* [[Steeve Briois]] (2017–2018)

=== Elected representatives ===
As of February 2023, the National Rally has 88 [[Member of Parliament (France)|MPs]]. They sit in the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]] as members of the [[National Rally group (National Assembly)|National Rally group]].

=== International affiliation and relations ===
====1980s-2000s====
The FN has been part of several groups in the [[European Parliament]]. The first group it helped co-establish was the [[European Right (1984–1989)|European Right]] after the 1984 election, which also consisted of the [[Italian Social Movement]] (MSI), its early inspiration, and the Greek [[National Political Union (Greece)|National Political Union]].{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=198}} Following the 1989 election, it teamed up with the German [[The Republicans (Germany)|Republicans]] and the Belgian [[Vlaams Blok]] in a new [[European Right (1989–1994)|European Right]] group, while the MSI left due to the Germans' arrival.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=193}} As the MSI evolved into the [[National Alliance (Italy)|National Alliance]], it chose to distance itself from the FN.{{sfn|DeClair|1999|p=194}}

From 1999 to 2001, the FN was a member of the [[Technical Group of Independents (1999–2001)|Technical Group of Independents]]. In 2007, it was part of the short-lived [[Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty]] group. Between the mentioned groups, the party sat among the non-affiliated [[Non-Inscrits]]. It was part of the [[Identity and Democracy]] group.

It was formerly known as the Europe of Nations and Freedom group, during which time it also included the Polish [[Congress of the New Right]], a former member of the [[UK Independence Party]] and a former member of Romania's [[Conservative Party (Romania)|Conservative Party]]. The RN has also been part of the [[Identity and Democracy Party]] (formerly the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom) since 2014, which additionally includes Slovakia's [[We Are Family (Slovakia)|We Are Family]] and the Bulgarian [[Volya Movement]], which was later renamed [[Patriots.eu]]. After the [[2024 European Parliament election]], the National Rally joined the [[Patriots for Europe]] group with Fidesz, Vox, the Czech [[ANO 2011]], the Portuguese [[Chega (political party)|Chega]], the Greek [[Voice of Reason (political party)|Voice of Reason]], [[Latvia First]] and most former ID members, with Bardella ultimately chairing the group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/patriots-for-europe-jordan-bardella-viktor-orban-marine-le-pen/|title=Patriots for Europe becomes EU parliament's 3rd-largest group, picks Jordan Bardella as president|website=Politico Europe|date=8 July 2024|access-date=8 July 2024}}</ref>

During Jean-Marie Le Pen's presidency, the party has also been active in establishing extra-parliamentary confederations. During the FN's 1997 national congress, the FN established the loose [[Euronat]] group, which consisted of a variety of European [[right-wing]] parties. Having failed to cooperate in the European Parliament, Le Pen sought in the mid-1990s to initiate contacts with other far-right parties, including from non-EU countries. The FN drew most support in Central and Eastern Europe, and Le Pen visited the Turkish [[Welfare Party]]. The significant [[Freedom Party of Austria]] (FPÖ) refused to join the efforts, as [[Jörg Haider]] sought to distance himself from Le Pen, and later attempted to build a separate group.<ref name="tnyt2">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/23/news/23iht-1r_35.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=A consistent opponent of immigration: Le Pen based appeal on fears about crime|first=Barry|last=James|date=23 April 2002|access-date=2 August 2011|archive-date=18 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518041254/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/23/news/23iht-1r_35.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://ispo.fss.muni.cz/uploads/2download/fukuoka/Mares.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818171825/http://ispo.fss.muni.cz/uploads/2download/fukuoka/Mares.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-08-18|title=Transnational Networks of Extreme Right Parties in East Central Europe: Stimuli and Limits of Cross-Border Cooperation|first=Miroslav|last=Mareš|publisher=[[Masaryk University]]|location=Brno, Czech Republic|date=July 2006|pages=11–13, 24}}</ref> In 2009, the FN joined the [[Alliance of European National Movements]]; it left the alliance since. Along with some other European parties, the FN in 2010 visited Japan's ''[[Issuikai]]'' ("right-wing") movement and the [[Yasukuni Shrine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100813-japan-europe-far-right-gathering-tokyo-yasukuni-shrine-le-pen-ww2 |publisher=France 24 |title=Japanese and European far right gathers in Tokyo |date=14 August 2010 |access-date=6 May 2011 |first=Nathalie |last=Tourret |archive-date=15 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215031332/http://www.france24.com/en/20100813-japan-europe-far-right-gathering-tokyo-yasukuni-shrine-le-pen-ww2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2010s====
At a conference in 2011, the two new leaders of the FN and the FPÖ, [[Marine Le Pen]] and [[Heinz-Christian Strache]], announced deeper cooperation between their parties.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://euobserver.com/843/32466?print=1|work=[[EUobserver]]|title=Austrian far-right in fresh push for EU respectability|first=Leigh|last=Phillips|date=9 June 2011|access-date=3 August 2011|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107123044/https://euobserver.com/political/32466|url-status=live}}</ref> Pursuing her de-demonisation policy, in October 2011, Marine Le Pen, as new president of the National Front, joined the [[European Alliance for Freedom]] (EAF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frontnational.com/2012/01/marine-le-pen-en-autriche/ |title=Marine Le Pen en Autriche |publisher=Front National |access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-date=10 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110072159/http://www.frontnational.com/2012/01/marine-le-pen-en-autriche/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The EAF is a pan-European sovereigntist platform founded late 2010 that is recognised by the European Parliament. The EAF has individual members linked to the Austrian Freedom Party of [[Heinz-Christian Strache]], the [[UK Independence Party]], and other movements such as the [[Sweden Democrats]], [[Vlaams Belang]] (Belgian Flanders), Germany ([[Citizens in Rage|Bürger in Wut]]), and Slovakia ([[Slovak National Party]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/grants/parties/EAF_2015.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 April 2018 |archive-date=21 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521081307/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/grants/parties/EAF_2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

During her 2012 visit to the United States, Marine Le Pen met two [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] members of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] associated with the [[Tea Party movement]], [[Joe Walsh (Illinois politician)|Joe Walsh]], who is known for his strong stance against [[Islam]], which Domenic Powell argues, rises to [[Islamophobia]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2012/08/14/rep-joe-walsh-continues-to-fan-the-flames-of-islamophobia-and-its-accomplishing-his-goals/|work=Imagine 2050|title=Rep. Joe Walsh continues to fan the flames of Islamophobia—and it's accomplishing his goals|first=Domenic|last=Powell|date=14 August 2012|access-date=17 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611164035/http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2012/08/14/rep-joe-walsh-continues-to-fan-the-flames-of-islamophobia-and-its-accomplishing-his-goals/|archive-date=11 June 2017|url-status=usurped}}</ref> and three-time presidential candidate [[Ron Paul]], whom Le Pen complimented for his stance on the [[gold standard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/11/03/marine_le_pens_awkward_day_on_capitol_hill|title=Marine Le Pen's awkward day on Capitol Hill|last=Keating|first=Joshua|date=3 November 2011|work=Foreign Policy|access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727031820/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/11/03/marine_le_pens_awkward_day_on_capitol_hill|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2017, two more conservative Republican Congressmen, [[Steve King]] and [[Dana Rohrabacher]], also met with Le Pen in Paris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slate.fr/story/137384/marine-le-pen-rencontre-elu-congres-connu-pour-propos-racistes|title=Marine Le Pen rencontre un élu américain connu pour ses propos racistes|last=Levenson|first=Claire|date=14 February 2017|website=Slate|language=fr-fr|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429073255/http://www.slate.fr/story/137384/marine-le-pen-rencontre-elu-congres-connu-pour-propos-racistes|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party also has ties to [[Steve Bannon]], who served as [[White House Chief Strategist]] under President [[Donald Trump]], and addressed an RN event in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|date=9 March 2018|title=Steve Bannon to address far-right event in France where Marine Le Pen will reveal new name for National Front|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/steve-bannon-to-address-far-right-event-in-france-where-marine-le-pen-will-reveal-new-name-for-national-front|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414234710/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/steve-bannon-to-address-far-right-event-in-france-where-marine-le-pen-will-reveal-new-name-for-national-front|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|title=French MPs demand inquiry into Steve Bannon's links with Marine Le Pen|date=12 May 2019|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/12/french-mps-demand-inquiry-steve-bannons-links-marine-le-pen/|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604115736/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/12/french-mps-demand-inquiry-steve-bannons-links-marine-le-pen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The FN allied with the Dutch [[Party for Freedom]] (PVV) in November 2013, after years of the PVV rejecting collaboration with the FN.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/20131113-france-netherlands-far-right-le-pen-wilders-anti-european-union-alliance | title=Le Pen and Wilders unite to form eurosceptic alliance | date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> Similarly, in December 2013, the FN formed an alliance with [[Matteo Salvini]], the new leader of the [[Lega Nord]], which had previously eschewed cooperation with the FN when it was led by [[Umberto Bossi]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/le-pen-plans-for-far-right-parliament-group-fall-foul-of-bossi-move/ | title=Le Pen plans for far-right Parliament group fall foul of Bossi move | date=28 July 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/12/15/lega-il-voltafaccia-di-salvini-dai-comunisti-padani-allamicizia-con-lestrema-destra-ue/813511/ | title=Lega, il salto di Salvini. Dai Comunisti padani all'amicizia con l'estrema destra | date=15 December 2013 }}</ref>

In 2014, [[UK Independence Party]] leader [[Nigel Farage]] was critical of the FN, claiming that the FN's association with "anti-Semitism and general prejudice" made it impossible for UKIP to join Le Pen's efforts for a united right-wing populist European Parliament group<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-27391499|title=Warfare between Eurosceptic camps: Le Pen v Farage|date=13 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=France24|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20140419-le-pen-fails-woo-britains-euro-sceptics-national-front-eu-elections|date=19 April 2014|title=Le Pen's National Front fail to woo Britain's Eurosceptics}}</ref> despite an invitation from PVV leader Wilders.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10447939/Geert-Wilders-invites-Nigel-Farage-to-join-anti-EU-alliance.html|date=13 November 2013|title=Geert Wilders invites Nigel Farage to join anti-EU alliance}}</ref>

In 2017, Marine Le Pen met with and was interviewed for the British radio station [[LBC]] by Farage, who praised Le Pen and expressed support for her presidential bid.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[New Statesman]]|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2017/03/inevitably-nigel-farage-and-marine-le-pen-are-now-buddies|title=Inevitably, Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen are now buddies|date=14 March 2017|access-date=15 March 2017|archive-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315163112/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2017/03/inevitably-nigel-farage-and-marine-le-pen-are-now-buddies|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to the [[2019 European Parliament election]], Farage's [[Brexit Party]] initially considered forming a joint group in the next European Parliament, but ultimately once again declined.<ref>https://x.com/EuropeElects/status/1129133778717282309</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The Guardian|title=Brexit party in talks to join far-right group in EU parliament|date=29 May 2019|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/29/brexit-party-said-talks-to-join-far-right-group-in-eu-parliament}}</ref><ref name="EUalliance"/> In 2024, Farage, in his capacity as the leader of [[Reform UK]], distanced himself from the RN, describing its economic agenda as a "disaster" for France.<ref>{{cite news|work=UnHerd|title=Nigel Farage: Marine Le Pen's economics would be 'a disaster' for France|date=1 July 2024|url=https://unherd.com/newsroom/nigel-farage-rassemblement-national-will-be-a-disaster-for-france/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The Spectator|title=Nigel Farage turns on Marine Le Pen|date=1 July 2024|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/farage-turns-on-marine-le-pen/}}</ref>

Though the FN had close contacts with [[Giorgia Meloni]]'s [[Brothers of Italy]] (FdI) from 2013 onwards,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.giorgiameloni.it/2017/05/08/meloni/ |title=Meloni a "Il Corriere della Sera": "In Francia il voto della paura è stato contro Le Pen"<!-- Bot generated title --> |date=8 May 2017 |access-date=23 January 2020 |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524135305/https://www.giorgiameloni.it/2017/05/08/meloni/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the relationship between the RN and FdI became strained in 2022, after Meloni publicly declined to support Le Pen's 2022 presidential bid.<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Monde|title=The far-right rift between France's Marine Le Pen and Italy's Giorgia Meloni|date=23 September 2022|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2022/09/23/the-far-right-rift-between-france-s-marine-le-pen-and-italy-s-giorgia-meloni_5997953_5.html}}</ref>

In 2023, Meloni complained to French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] after he compared her to Le Pen,<ref>{{cite news|work=Reuters|title=Insight: Meloni, Le Pen rift mars far right's prospects of wielding EU power|date=1 April 2024|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/meloni-le-pen-rift-mars-far-rights-prospects-wielding-eu-power-2024-03-29/}}</ref> while Le Pen criticised Meloni's illegal immigration policies.<ref>{{cite news|work=Euractiv|title=Le Pen praises Salvini's previous anti-migration efforts, tackling Meloni|date=18 September 2023|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/le-pen-praises-salvinis-previous-anti-migration-efforts-tackling-meloni/}}</ref>

However, in early 2024, Le Pen and Meloni made overtures to one another, declining to rule out future cooperation between their parties.<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Monde|title=Le Pen draws closer to Meloni and distances herself from Germany's AfD|date=2 February 2024|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/02/02/le-pen-draws-closer-to-meloni-and-distances-herself-from-germany-s-afd_6486350_5.html}}</ref> In July 2024, Meloni praised Le Pen's alliance with [[Eric Ciotti]] and [[Marion Maréchal]] during the 2024 French legislative election, congratulated the RN on its success in the first round of the election, and expressed preference for the right-wing alliance in the second round of the election.<ref>{{cite news|work=Nova.news|title=France, Meloni's compliments to Le Pen: The barriers between the alternative forces to the left have been overcome|date=1 July 2024|url=https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/francia-i-complimenti-di-meloni-a-le-pen-sono-state-superate-le-barriere-tra-le-forze-alternative-alla-sinistra/}}</ref>

In addition, the party has had relations with [[Krasimir Karakachanov]]'s [[IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement]] in 2014<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.20min.ch/ro/news/monde/story/Geert-Wilders-voit-Marine-Le-Pen-presidente-en-2017-23367934|title = Geert Wilders voit Marine le Pen présidente en 2017|date = 29 November 2014|access-date = 23 January 2020|archive-date = 18 April 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418080701/https://www.20min.ch/ro/news/monde/story/Geert-Wilders-voit-Marine-Le-Pen-presidente-en-2017-23367934|url-status = live}}</ref> and [[Nenad Popović]]'s [[Serbian People's Party (2014)|Serbian People's Party]] since 2021.<ref>{{cite web|author=Име* |url=https://srpskanarodnapartija.rs/popovic-sa-predstavnicima-omladina-partija-clanica-grupe-identitet-i-demokratija/ |title=Српска народна партија |publisher=Srpskanarodnapartija.rs |date=2021-11-12 |access-date=2022-02-27}}</ref> The RN was critical of the decision to allow the Bulgarian [[Revival (Bulgarian political party)|Revival]] to join the ID Party in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Monde|title=Putin's allies in the European Parliament rally around Le Pen's party|date=1 March 2024|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/03/01/putin-s-allies-in-the-european-parliament-rally-around-le-pen-s-party_6576763_5.html}}</ref>

Since 2018, the RN has had relations with [[Santiago Abascal]]'s [[Vox (political party)|Vox]] in Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.elespanol.com/espana/politica/20181202/marine-pen-felicita-vox-resultado-andalucia-conozca/357714833_0.html|title = Marine le Pen felicita a Vox por su resultado en Andalucía antes de que se conozca|date = 2 December 2018|access-date = 23 January 2020|archive-date = 4 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200804131520/https://www.elespanol.com/espana/politica/20181202/marine-pen-felicita-vox-resultado-andalucia-conozca/357714833_0.html|url-status = live}}</ref> In 2024, Vox had Le Pen address its conference, despite Vox being a member of the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group]]; after the election, Vox joined the RN in [[Patriots for Europe]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Euractiv|title=Meloni, Orbán, Le Pen back Spanish far right in 'battle against Brussels'|date=20 May 2024|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/meloni-orban-le-pen-back-spanish-far-right-in-battle-against-brussels/}}</ref>

In 2019, RN MEPs participated in the first international delegation to visit India's [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] following the decision by [[Narendra Modi]]'s [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] government to [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir]]. The delegation was not sanctioned by the European Parliament, and consisted mostly of right-wing populist politicians including MEPs from Vox, AfD, the Northern League, Vlaams Belang, the British [[Brexit Party]], and Poland's [[Law and Justice]] party.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=India Finally Lets Lawmakers into Kashmir: Far-Right Europeans|date=29 October 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/world/asia/india-kashmir-european.html|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=24 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224013519/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/world/asia/india-kashmir-european.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Telegraph (India)]]|title=22 of 27 EU parliamentarians visiting Kashmir are from Right-wing parties|date=28 October 2019|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/22-of-27-eu-parliamentarians-visiting-kashmir-are-from-right-wing-parties/cid/1714921|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102091121/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/22-of-27-eu-parliamentarians-visiting-kashmir-are-from-right-wing-parties/cid/1714921|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2020s====
In October 2021, Le Pen met with [[Fidesz]] leader and Hungarian Prime Minister [[Viktor Orbán]], Polish Prime Minister [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] from the [[Law and Justice]] (PiS) party, and [[Slovenian Democratic Party]] leader and Slovenian Prime Minister [[Janez Janša]].<ref>{{cite news|work=[[TV5Monde]]|title=À Bruxelles, Le Pen loue le "bienfaisant courage" de la Pologne face à l'UE|date=22 October 2021|url=https://information.tv5monde.com/info/bruxelles-le-pen-loue-le-bienfaisant-courage-de-la-pologne-face-l-ue-429536|access-date=25 October 2021|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025120756/https://information.tv5monde.com/info/bruxelles-le-pen-loue-le-bienfaisant-courage-de-la-pologne-face-l-ue-429536|url-status=live}}</ref> Both PiS and Fidesz had previously rejected cooperation with Le Pen in 2019.<ref name="EUalliance">{{cite news|work=France 24|title=Farage, Polish populists dash far-right hopes of grand EU alliance|date=5 May 2019|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190605-farage-poland-populists-eu-far-right-salvini-le-pen}}</ref> Orbán subsequently supported Le Pen during the [[2022 French presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-and-eric-zemmour-face-off-in-rival-rallies/ |title=Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour face off in rival rallies – POLITICO|date=5 February 2022}}</ref> Morawiecki later expressed openness to the RN joining the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group]] in February 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pisorgpl_EN/status/1755257065147089265|work=Twitter|author=Law and Justice|title= News: Morawiecki inviting Orbán's Fidesz and Le Pen's National Rally to join Law and Justice's group in European Parliament. The common goal is "to save Europe" and "the ECR will most likely accept everyone who agrees against the dominant liberal and left-wing groups that are on course to destroy Europe," says Morawiecki.|date=7 February 2024}}</ref>

Relations with the AfD deteriorated in early 2024, following Le Pen's disagreements with the AfD members' discussions over [[remigration]]<ref>{{cite news|work=Euractiv|title=Le Pen questions EU-level alliance with AfD, spelling trouble for ID unity|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/le-pen-questions-eu-level-alliance-with-afd-spelling-trouble-for-id-unity/|date=26 January 2024}}</ref> and the AfD questioning French control of [[Mayotte]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Le Figaro|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/mayotte-marine-le-pen-fachee-contre-l-afd-qui-s-interroge-sur-l-appartenance-de-l-ile-a-la-france-20240420|date=20 April 2024|title= Mayotte: Marine Le Pen "fâchée" contre l'AfD qui s'interroge sur l'appartenance de l'île à la France}}</ref> In May 2024, the RN announced it would end its alliance with the AfD in the next European Parliament term.<ref>{{cite news|work=Liberation|title=Parlement européen : le RN rompt avec ses alliés allemands de l'AfD après des déclarations sur les SS|url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/elections/le-rn-rompt-avec-ses-allies-allemands-de-lafd-apres-des-declarations-sur-les-ss-20240521_LSL3Q6EWY5FQTCT66JKDRFWAJE/|date=21 May 2024}}</ref>

During the [[2024 French legislative election]], Israeli minister [[Amichai Chikli]] expressed support for Le Pen and the National Rally, and suggested that [[Likud]] leader and Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] shared his views, prompting a rebuke by President Macron.<ref>{{cite news|work=Al Jazeera|title=France's Macron slams Israeli minister's backing of Marine Le Pen|date=10 July 2024|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/10/frances-macron-slams-israeli-ministers-backing-of-marine-le-pen}}</ref> Chikli later described his relations with the RN, stating it was "natural that conservative leaders will have good relations with conservative leaders all across the globe".<ref>{{cite news|work=The Media Line|title=Diaspora Affairs Minister Chikli Stands by Praise for France's Le Pen – Exclusive|date=7 October 2024|url=https://themedialine.org/top-stories/diaspora-affairs-minister-chikli-stands-by-praise-for-frances-le-pen-exclusive/}}</ref>

== Election results ==
The National Front was a marginal party in 1973, the first election it participated in, but the party made its breakthrough in the 1984 European Parliament election, where it won 11% of the vote and ten MEPs. Following this election, the party's support mostly ranged from around 10 to 15%, although it saw a drop to around 5% in some late 2000s elections. Since 2010, the party's support seems to have increased towards its former heights. The party managed to advance to the final round of the 2002 French presidential election, although it failed to attract much more support after the initial first round vote. In the late 2000s the party suffered decline in elections. Under Marine Le Pen's presidency the party has increased its vote share significantly. The National Front came first in a national election for the first time during the [[2014 European Parliament election in France|2014 European elections]], when it gained 24% of the vote. During the [[2017 French presidential election|2017 presidential election]] the party advanced to the second round of the election for the second time, and doubled the percentage it received in the 2002 presidential election, earning 34%. In the [[2019 European Parliament election in France|2019 European elections]] the rebranded National Rally retained its spot as first party.

=== National Assembly ===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|-
|+ [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]
|-
!Election year
!Leader
!1st round votes
!%
!2nd round votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
|-
![[1973 French legislative election|1973]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
| rowspan="9" |[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
|108,616
|0.5%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|0|491|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|-
![[1978 French legislative election|1978]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
|82,743
|0.3%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|0|491|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|-
![[1981 French legislative election|1981]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
|44,414
|0.2%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|0|491|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|-
![[1986 French legislative election|1986]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
|2,703,442
|9.6%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|35|573|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{increase}} 35}}
|-
![[1988 French legislative election|1988]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
|2,359,528
|9.6%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|1|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{decrease}} 34}}
|-
![[1993 French legislative election|1993]]<ref name="eed">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/france/|publisher=European Election Database|title=France: Elections 1990–2010|access-date=6 September 2011|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224133032/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/france/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|3,155,702
|12.7%
|1,168,143
|5.8%
|{{composition bar|0|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{decrease}} 1}}
|-
![[1997 French legislative election|1997]]<ref name=eed/>
|3,791,063
|14.9%
|1,435,186
|5.7%
|{{composition bar|1|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{increase}} 1}}
|-
![[2002 French legislative election|2002]]<ref name=eed/>
|2,873,390
|11.1%
|393,205
|1.9%
|{{composition bar|0|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{decrease}} 1}}
|-
![[2007 French legislative election|2007]]<ref name=eed/>
|1,116,136
|4.3%
|17,107
|0.1%
|{{composition bar|0|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|-
![[2012 French legislative election|2012]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Marine Le Pen]]
|3,528,373
|13.6%
|842,684
|3.7%
|{{composition bar|2|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{increase}} 2}}
|-
![[2017 French legislative election|2017]]
|2,990,454
|13.2%
|1,590,858
|8.8%
|{{composition bar|8|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{increase}} 6}}
|-
![[2022 French legislative election|2022]]
|4,248,626
|18.7%
|3,589,465
|17.3%
|{{composition bar|89|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{center|{{increase}} 81}}
|-
![[2024 French legislative election|2024]]
|[[Jordan Bardella]]
|10,647,914
|33.2%
|10,110,079
|37.1%
| {{composition bar|142|577|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{center|{{increase}} 53}}
|}

=== Presidential ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Election year
!rowspan="2"|Candidate
!colspan="3"|First round
!colspan="3"|Second round
!rowspan="2"|Result
|-
!Votes
!%
!Rank
!Votes
!%
!Rank
|-
![[1974 French presidential election|1974]]
|[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
|190,921
|0.75
|{{increase}} 7th
|colspan=3 {{N/A}}
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[1981 French presidential election|1981]]
|colspan=8 align=center|''did not participate''
|-
![[1988 French presidential election|1988]]
|rowspan=4|[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
|4,375,894
|14.39
|{{increase}} 4th
|colspan=3 {{N/A}}
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[1995 French presidential election|1995]]
|4,570,838
|15.00
|{{steady}} 4th
|colspan=3 {{N/A}}
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[2002 French presidential election|2002]]
|4,804,713
|16.86
|{{increase}} 2nd
|5,525,032
|17.70
|{{increase}} 2nd
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[2007 French presidential election|2007]]
|3,834,530
|10.44
|{{decrease}} 4th
|colspan=3 {{N/A}}
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[2012 French presidential election|2012]]
|rowspan=3|[[Marine Le Pen]]
|6,421,426
|17.90
|{{increase}} 3rd
|colspan=3 {{N/A}}
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[2017 French presidential election|2017]]
|7,678,491
|21.30
|{{increase}} 2nd
|10,638,475
|33.90
|{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
![[2022 French presidential election|2022]]
|8,133,828
|23.15
|{{steady}} 2nd
|13,288,686
|41.45
|{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no|Lost}}
|}

=== Regional councils ===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|-
|+ [[Regional council (France)|Regional councils]]
|-
!Election
!Leader
!1st round votes
!%
!2nd round votes
!%
!Seats
!Regional presidencies
!+/–
!Winning party
!Rank
|-
![[1986 French regional elections|1986]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
| rowspan="5" |[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
|2,654,390
|9.7%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|137|1880|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|26|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|[[Union for French Democracy]]
|4th
|-
![[1992 French regional elections|1992]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}
|3,396,141
|13.9%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|239|1880|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|26|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{increase}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Rally for the Republic]]
| rowspan="6" |3rd
|-
![[1998 French regional elections|1998]]{{sfn|Shields|2007|p=319}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales_1998/(path)/regionales_1998/index.html|publisher=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]|title=Résultat des élections Régionales 1998|language=fr|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029234526/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales_1998/(path)/regionales_1998/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|3,270,118
|15.3%
|—
|—
|{{composition bar|275|1880|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|26|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{increase}}
|-
![[2004 French regional elections|2004]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales_2004/(path)/regionales_2004/index.html|publisher=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]|title=Résultat des élections Régionales 2004|language=fr|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107123324/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales_2004/(path)/regionales_2004/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|3,564,064
|14.7%
|3,200,194
|12.4%
|{{composition bar|156|1880|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|26|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{decrease}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]]
|-
![[2010 French regional elections|2010]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales-2015/(path)/regionales-2015/index.html|publisher=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]|title=Résultat des élections Régionales 2010|language=fr|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=20 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320014435/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/reg2010/FE.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|2,223,800
|11.4%
|1,943,307
|9.2%
|{{composition bar|118|1749|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|26|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{decrease}}
|-
![[2015 French regional elections|2015]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales-2015/(path)/regionales-2015/index.html|publisher=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]|title=Résultat des élections Régionales 2015|language=fr|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107123203/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales-2015/(path)/regionales-2015/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |[[Marine Le Pen]]
|6,018,672
|27.7%
|6,820,147
|27.1%
|{{composition bar|358|1722|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|18|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{increase}}
|[[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]]
|-
![[2021 French regional elections|2021]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales-2021/(path)/regionales-2021/index.html|publisher=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]|title=Résultat des élections Régionales 2021|language=fr|access-date=6 September 2011|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107123445/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales-2021/(path)/regionales-2021/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.bfmtv.com/ |title=Résultats de l'élection présidentielle 2017 |publisher=Elections.bfmtv.com |date= |access-date=2022-02-27}}</ref>
|2,743,497
|18.7%
|2,908,253
|19.1%
|{{composition bar|252|1926|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|18|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|{{decrease}}
|Leftist Union + Ecologists
|}

=== European Parliament ===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:center;"
|+[[European Parliament]]<br />''See also [[Elections to the European Parliament]]''
|-
! Election
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! EP Group
|-
![[1984 European Parliament election in France|1984]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
| 2,210,334
| 10.95 (#4)
| {{composition bar|10|81|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| New
| [[European Right (1984–1989)|ER]]
|-
! [[1989 European Parliament election in France|1989]]
| 2,129,668
| 11.73 (#3)
| {{composition bar|10|81|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| [[European Right (1989–1994)|ER]]
|-
! [[1994 European Parliament election in France|1994]]
| 2,050,086
| 10.52 (#5)
| {{composition bar|11|87|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| ''[[Non-Inscrits|NI]]''
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in France|1999]]
| 1,005,113
| 5.70 (#8)
| {{composition bar|5|87|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| [[Technical Group of Independents (1999–2001)|TGI]]
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in France|2004]]
| 1,684,792
| 9.81 (#4)
| {{composition bar|7|78|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| rowspan="2" |''[[Non-Inscrits|NI]]''
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in France|2009]]
| 1,091,691
| 6.34 (#6)
| {{composition bar|3|74|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 4
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in France|2014]]
| [[Marine Le Pen]]
| 4,712,461
| 24.86 (#1)
| {{composition bar|24|74|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{increase}} 21
| [[Europe of Nations and Freedom|ENF]]
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in France|2019]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Jordan Bardella]]
| 5,286,939
| 23.34 (#1)
| {{composition bar|23|79|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| [[Identity and Democracy|ID]]
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in France|2024]]{{efn|Run in a joint list with [[French Future|LAF]].}}
| 7,765,936
| 31.50 (#1)
| {{composition bar|30|81|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
| {{increase}} 7
| [[Patriots for Europe|PfE]]
|}
{{Notelist}}

=== Congress of New Caledonia ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
|-
| [[2004 New Caledonian legislative election|2004]]
| 6,135
| 6.85%
| {{composition bar|4|54|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|-
| [[2009 New Caledonian legislative election|2009]]
| 2,591
| 2.68%
| {{composition bar|0|54|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|-
| [[2014 New Caledonian legislative election|2014]]
| 2,706
| 2.57%
| {{composition bar|0|54|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|-
| [[2019 New Caledonian legislative election|2019]]
| 2,707
| 2.46%
| {{composition bar|0|54|hex={{party color|National Front (France)}}}}
|}

== See also ==
*[[Neo-nationalism]]
*[[The Radical Right in Western Europe]]
*[[Radical right (Europe)]]
*[[Republican Front (French Fifth Republic)]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Camus|first1=Jean-Yves|title=Far-Right Politics in Europe|last2=Lebourg|first2=Nicolas|year=2017|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674971530|author-link=Jean-Yves Camus|author-link2=Nicolas Lebourg}}
* {{cite book|last=Davies|first=Peter|year=2012|title=The National Front in France: Ideology, Discourse and Power |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-72530-4}}
* {{cite book |last=DeClair |first=Edward G.|year=1999 |title=Politics on the Fringe: The People, Policies, and Organization of the French National Front |publisher=Duke University |isbn=978-0-8223-2139-2 |url={{Google books|t4xTc6CW78QC|plainurl=y}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Kitschelt |first1=Herbert |last2=McGann |first2=Anthony J. |year=1997 |chapter=France: The National Front As Prototype of the New Radical Right |title=The Radical Right in Western Europe: A Comparative Analysis |publisher=University of Michigan |isbn=978-0-472-08441-8 |pages=91–120 |chapter-url={{Google books|AZiD0rsmqO4C|page=91|plainurl=y}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Shields |first=James |year=2007 |title=The Extreme Right in France: From Pétain to Le Pen |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-37200-8 |url={{Google books|XVif-FAKfZIC|plainurl=y}}}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last=Beauzamy |first=Brigitte |chapter=Explaining the Rise of the Front National to Electoral Prominence: Multi-Faceted or Contradictory Models? |title=Right-Wing Populism in Europe: Politics and Discourse |publisher=Bloomsbury |place=London/New York |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-78093-343-6 |pages=177–190}}
* {{cite book |last=Davies|first=Peter|year=1999 |title=The National Front in France: Ideology, Discourse and Power |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-15866-4 |url={{Google books|RDHOCh1y_wQC|plainurl=y}}}}
* {{cite journal |last=Hainsworth |first=Paul |year=2012 |title=The Extreme Right in France: From Pétain to Le Pen |journal=Modern & Contemporary France |volume=20 |issue=3 |page=392|doi=10.1080/09639489.2012.691290 |s2cid=145348163 }}
* {{cite book |last=Joly |first=Bertrand |title=Nationalistes et Conservateurs en France, 1885–1902 |publisher=Les Indes Savantes |year=2008 |language=French}}
* {{cite web |last=Mayer |first=Nonna |title=From Jean-Marie to Marine Le Pen: Electoral Change on the Far Right |url=http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/content/66/1/160.short |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626004928/http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/content/66/1/160.short |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-06-26 |date=2013 |access-date=31 March 2015}}
* {{cite book |last=Russo |first=Luana |year=2014 |chapter=France: The historic victory of the Front National |chapter-url=http://www.laurasudulich.eu/1/150/resources/news_647_1.pdf#page=181 |pages=181–188 |editor1=De Sio L. |editor2=Emanuele V. |editor3=Maggini N. |title=The European Parliament Elections of 2014 |publisher=CISE |location=Rome |isbn=978-88-98012-15-2 |access-date=27 October 2014 |archive-date=27 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027121835/http://www.laurasudulich.eu/1/150/resources/news_647_1.pdf#page=181 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite journal |last=Shields |first=James |title=Marine Le Pen and the 'New' FN: A Change of Style or of Substance? |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |volume=66 |issue=1 |pages=179–196 |date=2013 |doi=10.1093/pa/gss076 }}
* {{Cite book|last=Simmons|first=Harvey G.|title=The French National Front: The Extremist Challenge To Democracy|date=1996|publisher=Westview Press|isbn=978-0813389790}}
* {{cite book |last=Winock |first=Michel |author-link=Michel Winock |title=Histoire de l'extrême droite en France |date=1993 |language=fr}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Rassemblement National}}
* {{official website}} {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://fninfos.fr/ FNinfos, the official website of National Front activists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507014848/http://fninfos.fr/ |date=7 May 2017 }}
* [http://www.nationspresse.info/ Nations Presse Info, an information Website near the National Front]
* [http://www.english.rfi.fr/economy/20120503-has-marine-le-pen-made-frances-front-national-respectable Has Marine Le Pen made France's Front National respectable? RFI English]
* [https://theconversation.com/the-european-far-right-actually-right-or-left-or-something-altogether-different-6796 Marine Le Pen's Protectionist Economics and Social Conservatism]

{{Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom}}
{{French political parties}}
{{National Front}}
{{Jean-Marie Le Pen}}
{{French far right}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Rally}}
[[Category:National Rally (France)| ]]
[[Category:Anti-immigration politics in France]]
[[Category:Anti-Islam political parties in Europe]]
[[Category:Far-right political parties in France]]
[[Category:Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
[[Category:Member parties of the Identity and Democracy Party]]
[[Category:Right-wing parties in France]]
[[Category:Right-wing populist parties]]
[[Category:Right-wing populism in France]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Euronat members]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in France]]
[[Category:French nationalist parties]]
[[Category:National conservative parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1972]]
[[Category:Political parties of the French Fifth Republic]]