paris four months heavy electoral defeat france national front verge split leader chief deputy could open way policy change euro far-right party seek rebrand marine le pen relationship florian philippot years close aide become strain since lose presidential election centrist emmanuel macron far-right experts say reach point no-return rupture would mark important change fn le pen years defend philippot anti-euro protectionist line critics party build 2012 2017 presidential campaign advice philippot fire party setbacks year presidential parliamentary elections many blame anti-euro line back strongly le pen whose leadership also scrutiny increasingly distance philippot focus party anti-immigration identitarian root speeches rather party stance euro philippot stand firm maintain oppose euro vote winner le pen issue ultimatum say must decide party role think-tank group know patriots set focus anti-euro policy intend abandon patriots convictions ideals visibly shake philippot say interview cnews want get rid prevent work relaunch national front let do add minutes late le pen issue terse statement say decide revoke responsibilities strategy communications stop short fire vice president jerome fourquet specialist far-right pollster ifop see split definitive seem escalate point no-return say philippot leave party force could first cause turmoil far-right struggle portray main opposition macron despite reach second round presidential election may presidential run-off le pen secure 34 percent vote 66 percent macron strong election performance still disappointment june parliamentary election national front eight seat role chief opponent assume jean-luc melenchon leader far-left france insoumise france unbowed together unions lead call mass protest reform plan macron departure philippot graduate france top ena administrative school could follow others party similar profile walk deprive party figure key policy-making le pen party might however see long-term gain exit could enable reassert authority make easy shift policy euro might turn help fn forge alliances right-wing politicians philippot leave would negative buzz would turmoil fn would likely digest overcome fourquet say underline party survive previous crises departure late 1990s bruno megret political star take ally analysts say philippot few loyal ally small political capital megret time would therefore unlikely create rival party would pose serious threat fn deadline fn decide want rebrand march hold party congress decide new name strategies policies next presidential election due 2022. jean messiha coordinate le pen presidential manifesto say party difficult phase adapt france change political landscape need get act together importantly need marine le pen reaffirm reassert authority tell reuters le pen partner senior fn official louis aliot make similar point tell supporters weekend give defeatism politics never dead say france 's national front verge split election setback