French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s right-hand man stormed out of the party on Thursday as simmering tensions over the National Front’s election defeats this year burst into the open. Florian Philippot, architect of the National Front’s pledge to quit the euro and detoxify its brand, announced his departure after Le Pen bowed to pressure to push him towards the exit. Le Pen’s partner Louis Aliot, an MP from southwest France, called Philippot “vain and arrogant” on Twitter. Le Pen also sought to stamp out the speculation swirling about her future since her second failed presidential bid. “I am the strongest and best placed” to represent the party in the next presidential election in 2022, she insisted Thursday.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 21, 2017 12:33 UTC