French far-right seeks new direction after setbacks

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - France’s far-right National Front is holding two days of meetings in a bid to reform its image after electoral setbacks earlier this year.

Led by failed presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, the divided party is gathering in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris.

Among the subjects to be discussed by nearly 40 senior party representatives on Friday and Saturday is the party's anti-euro stance and its call to return to using the franc.

The party's secretary general, Nicolas Bay, told France Info radio on Friday the change of position would be decided in September.

These meetings will be followed by a questionnaire sent to National Front members in September and a party congress early next year.

However, changing or reviewing the party policy will not be easy as leading figures like Florian Philippot and economist Philippe Murer persist in championing a French exit from the EU.

After losing the presidential race to Emmanuel Macron in May, Le Pen has vowed to "deeply renew" the party starting by changing its name and its internal organization in a bid to make it what she described to France Info radio earlier this month as "a very great French political movement".

Le Pen, 48, succeeded in becoming a member of parliament in June after four failed attempts. Her party secured eight seats, up from two, but remains dwarfed by more mainstream parties, particularly Macron’s La Republique En Marche!