It's biggest success, .
however was the 2002 Presidential Election were Le Pen polled 16.9% compared to Megret's .
2.3% - as a result Le Pen made it through to the second round, and mass public outcry was .
heard all over France.
Gilles Ivaldi succinctly sums up this electoral period for the FN.
"Over the 1988-98 period, one key feature of mass mobilization on the extreme right has .
been the FN's ability to secure its electoral support between elections. Voting for the FN.
became more permanent and less volatile The 1990's were to witness the growth and .
stabilization of the far-right electorate."6.
This growth and stabilization of the FN's electorate has lead to its increased success in.
elections from 1984 onwards. So, as stated earlier, Le Pen has been successful in distancing .
himself from traditions of the right-wing and as a result of doing so has not had the burden of.
being labelled "fascist". But are the FN fascist? Maybe the reason why many of its voters.
don't label the Front a fascist organisation is simply because it isn't one. To answer this we.
must look at the ideology and policies of the Front National and why they have attracted ,and .
maintained, voters:.
Ideologies and Policies of the FN and Factors That Gained Them Votes:.
Are the FN a fascist organisation? I believe they are. They bear all the characteristics of a .
traditional fascist party, as Rick Wilford explains:.
"Part of the answer to fascism's apparent durability lies in its ability to simplify the.
complexities of political life. Fascism thrives on simplistic thinking and sloganising,.
blaming "them" for "our" problems."7.
Indeed the FN and Le Pen do this better bar none. The FN has blamed many for France's .
social and political problems - Socialists and immigrants being the main two. The FN has .
offered simplistic solutions and strong leadership to such "problems" which appear attractive .
to voters. Alistair Cole puts forward an idea of FN electoral success in the context of Socialist.
