Le Pen cuts ties from her founding father
French far-right leader proposes name change in image makeover
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen proposed renaming the National Front party co-founded by her father 46 years ago to National Rally, opening a new era after her resounding defeat in last year’s presidential race.
Le Pen’s proposal culminated her closing speech at the party’s two-day congress in Lille, the capital of the National Front’s northern heartland. The name National Rally must be approved by party members in a mail vote and it’s not clear whether they will accept the change.
In another decisive change, the party severed the final ties to firebrand founder JeanMarie Le Pen, 89, by eliminat- ing his title of honorary president-for-life. It was part of the makeover designed to revive the nationalist party’s fortunes after the ousted founder’s daughter failed to win the presidency last year. He was barred from attending the congress.
After her defeat, Le Pen had promised a “refoundation” of the party. New faces appeared within the leadership and new bylaws were voted on. But the party’s foundation, notably its anti-immigration agenda, remained intact.
However, Le Pen’s party reset had an immediate setback when a young official was suspended for allegedly using racial slurs.
Davy Rodriguez tweeted Sun- day that he “formally denies racist remarks ascribed to me.”
A video on social networks showed an agitated man identified as Rodriguez making a racial slur and being calmed. In another video, a Black man recounts racial insults he said were proffered.
Since taking over in 2011, Le Pen has worked to remove the stigma of racism and anti-Semitism attached to the National Front under her father’s leadership.