Le Pen wants to rename ailing far-right party ‘National Rally’

MARINE LE PEN has proposed changing the name of the Front National to Rassemblement National – loosely translated as National Rally – as part of a makeover aimed at ridding the French far-right party of its racismtinted past and preparing it to bid for power.

She made the proposal at the close of a two-day party conference in Lille, where she said the FN’S current name was “associated with a glorious and epic history that no one can deny” but that it was also an impediment that prevented the anti-immigration party winning power in elections.

“For a lot of French people … it’s a psychological barrier,” she told hundreds of activists at the conference, where Steve Bannon – the man who helped Donald Trump ride a populist wave to power in the United States – made a speech.

He praised Ms Le Pen’s vision of a political spectrum that no longer spanned Left-right but which pitted “nationalists” against “globalists”.

“Let them call you racists, let them call you xenophobes, let them call you nativists. Wear it as a badge of honour. Because every day we get stronger and they get weaker,” Mr Bannon said.

The proposed new name must be approved by party members before it can be adopted. The possible change is part of a broader makeover led by Ms Le Pen aimed at “de-demonising” the party.