![\"La](\"http:\/\/www.sciencespo.fr\/research\/cogito\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/835779935-221x300.jpg\")
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Of course, studying elections involves the examination of political parties. Sciences Po researchers have fully devoted themselves to this pursuit and, building on Ren\u00e9 R\u00e9mond<\/a>\u2019s classical work, particularly focus on parties of the right and far-right. Recent publications include, among many others, Les droites en France \u00e0 l\u2019horizon de 2017. Fractures, diversit\u00e9s et unit\u00e9<\/a> (The Rights in France in 2017. Divides, diversity and unity) by Pascal Perrineau, Les faux-semblants du Front National: sociologie d\u2019un parti politique<\/a> (The Front National\u2019s False Pretenses: sociology of a political party) by Nonna Mayer & alii (ed.), and Les droites en fusion. Transformations de l\u2019UMP<\/a> (The fusion of the rights. The UMP\u2019s transformations) by Florence Haegel, which sheds light on the interactions between electoral reality and parties. The Front National\u2019s electoral pressure on the right both organizationally and ideologically transformed the UMP, and then the R\u00e9publicains.<\/p>\n The quest for unity: merger and primaries<\/b><\/p>\n The idea of merging the parties of the right had been on the agenda since Jacques Chirac\u2019s defeat in the 1988 presidential elections, but it was not until the national shock of 21 April 2002 \u2013 when Jean-Marie Le Pen qualified for the second round in the presidential elections \u2013 that the UMP was created. Similarly, the right adopted primaries as a means to avoid fragmentation in order to make it to the second round to face the Front National.<\/p>\n Competition with the Front National has also had ideological effects. The French right implemented a strategy of reclaiming the Front National\u2019s themes in an effort to weaken it. This strategy was occasionally successful during the 2007 presidential elections, but it failed over the medium term because it helped legitimize the Front National\u2019s themes.<\/p>\n De-demonization <\/b><\/p>\n In retrospect, the \u201cde-demonization\u201d strategy pursued by Marine Le Pen since 2011 plays into her attempt to break through the electoral \u201cglass ceiling\u201d. She has softened her image and presents her ideas in a more acceptable form for a democracy, painting her party as the defender of women\u2019s rights, gays, Jews and secularism against Islamic fundamentalism.<\/p>\n![\"Nicolas](\"http:\/\/www.sciencespo.fr\/research\/cogito\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Nicolas_Sarkozy_-_Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire_-_151014-222x300.jpg\")
The right veers right<\/b><\/p>\n