This time with a 'Rally' rather than a 'Front'. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43364931
She has always said - long before the last election- that she had her sights set on the 2020 one.
She's now even got Steve Bannon rooting for her, but can she cut the mustard?
They are gathering to choose a new name (always a bad sign).
// Since losing to Emmanuel Macron in the presidential run-off last year, Ms Le Pen has lost voters, endured attacks from her father and seen the defection of some of the party's most important figures. Will a name change turn the FN's fortunes around? //
Since then, more than a third of party members failed to pay their dues and several key figures have quit.
Steve Bannon supports Le Pen? Now there's a surprise :-)
He was poncing around Italy during the election there. It isn’t just the Russians who interfere in elections ...
The Rally call hasn’t been met with universal approval...
// Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far-right veteran who founded the party in 1972, called the name change political “suicide” in an interview with Reuters last month. //
Allez-y, Marine! A recent poll showed 46% of under 30's supporting her (I think it was under 30s, certainly young people). It's also a town/country thing - my ex-area voted almost 100% FN. She's got a good chance i.m.o..
When she stands next in 2 years time, the EU will be quite a different place and I predict it will be in turmoil. The UK will have Brexitted, which will encourage others to seek reforms, Merkel will be history, the Trump factor will be taking its toll, and also, whither Italy?
Remember the Chinese curse, 'May you live in interesting times'.
Go Marine, - Geronimo!!
Does changing a name make any difference? Tricky one. The Liberal Party changed its name to the Liberal-Democrat Party after its ill-fated merge with the SDP. I remember in the early 60s the Daily Worker changing its name to the Morning Star. Don't think it did much to boost sales.
Ecology changing to Green I am sure helped it.
(The Liberals didn't change their name did they? It was a merger between two parties: wasn't there a Spitting Image sketch about that where the two Davids were trying to think of a name for the new party: Owen suggesting taking the words "Social Democratic" from his lot and the word "Party" from Steel's lot)
Or did I imagine it...