The National Front (Front national (French pronunciation: [fʁɔ̃ na.sjɔ.nal]) or FN) is an economically protectionist, socially conservative nationalist party in France. The party was founded in 1972, seeking to unify a variety of French nationalist movements of the time. Jean-Marie Le Pen was the party's first leader and the undisputed centre of the party from its start until his resignation in 2011