After decades as political pariahs, the rise of France's far right

In France, political history is being written as popularity for the far right National Rally is at its highest since World War Two after the party's success at the European elections triggered France's snap election. Previously the National Front, an extreme faction led by Jean Marie Le Pen, the party has evolved into a viable political option under his daughter Marine since Jean Marie's shocking qualification for the second round of the presidential race in 2002. The party known for its hardline approach to issues such as immigration. Has slowly but surely moved from the sidelines to the mainstream. In 2017 and 2022, Marine Le Pen made it to the last round of the presidential election, sending dozens of representatives to parliament. Then, with pension reforms and subsequent protests, the mood in France began to sour towards President Macron. Centrism and a political alternative became more alluring. The National Rally were then brought into the legislative mainstream after elements of their policies were adopted into recent immigration law, including migration quotas. A change in leadership from the legacy far right Lupin family to the charismatic, youthful Jordan Bardella has also improved numbers. With over 1.7 million followers on TikTok. The 28 year old leader has become part of a rebrand. Making efforts to shed an extremist image of the party. By Della has appealed to voters whilst running against mass immigration and demographic change in France. In previous elections, political parties made great efforts to keep the far right. Now some have been persuaded to break the taboo. An agreement with Republican Eric is the National Rally's first political alliance. For party that for decades seemed uninviting to voters, they have now become a top choice France's political landscape.