paris right-hand man french national front chief marine le pen quit party thursday split open way policy change far-right party show depth internal feud le pen presidential election defeat departure florian philippot years le pen close aide key architect efforts detoxify party image campaign euro look increasingly inevitable party bicker blame damage electoral cycle exit expect allow le pen refocus core policies around immigration french national identity perhaps soften anti-euro tone many say contribute le pen resound defeat presidential election run-off philippot departure likely increase turmoil party first others already say would follow door fn survive similar crises past analysts expect time philippot see divisive within far-right create party would serious threat le pen show sometimes ruthless determination hold power national front already push father jean-marie founder party withdraw philippot responsibilities within movement late wednesday leave little choice future ridicule nothing yes course quit national front philippot 35 graduate france elite administrative school ena tell france television le pen last year speak intellectual crush philippot respond tersely fn would problems get departure one stop try bury national front tell lcp television every time people try come better-structured strong powerful national front make major inroads local regional european elections past decade without win major constituency hold congress march internal differences since defeat emmanuel macron new party come head far-right party try portray main voice opposition macron mantle far assume jean-luc melenchon leader far-left france insoumise france unbowed call mass demonstrations president economic reform far-left thrill appear france rtl radio thursday melenchon revel turmoil far-right excellent business perfect say reaction philippot departure party count nothing angry fascists urge turn back fn come join us fourquet expert far-right poll group ifop say philippot exit would deprive party experience policy writers say exodus likely limit short quit bruno megret leave party 1988 lead jean-marie le pen megret create party never attract many vote leave fn push end marginalize fourquet say philippot join party 2011 rise quickly become le pen chief adviser instrumental craft policies 2012 2017 election manifestos sophie montel one philippot close aid fn member 30 years say twitter quit party several philippot ally high profile figure rejoice include le pen partner louis aliot fn finally peace mind away sectarian arrogant vain extremist try muzzle freedom debate aliot say twitter think right everything ... extremist say late speak rmc show poll say 75 percent french people want leave euro reply give damn go robert menard fn ally mayor southern france even blunt say need stop anti-europeanism melenchon-type economic policies le pen say party would continue fight eu want return monetary sovereignty many flip-flop issue spell precisely would entail france 's national front number two quit far-right opposition turmoil