4. The FN’s Leadership and Elites Under Jean-Marie Le Pen and Marine Le Pen

This chapter is dedicated to the two leaders Jean Marie Le Pen and Marine Le Pen, their leadership styles, the party elites that surround them and the two leaders’ media relations. An in-depth analysis of the secondary literature and some primary sources highlights that there is continuity in the way the two leaders have run the FN. Both leaders are charismatic, they have created a personality cult around their name, they have governed the FN with an iron fist, and they have had a strong record in nominating family members to important inner-party offices. Yet, Le Pen father and Le Pen daughter differ in their relationship with the media. Jean Marie Le Pen has always had a strenuous relationship with the media. Yet, he nurtured this negative media broadcasting through provocations and anti-Jewish statements. In contrast, Marine Le Pen has normalized her relationship with the media. Seen as a young and dynamic woman, she is even a media favorite, who is regularly invited to talk shows, political shows and news broadcasts.