France's Le Pen: we will not return to the old National Front

FILE PHOTO: French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party leader Marine Le Pen delivers a speech in reaction to the outcomes of the second round of French regional and departmental elections, in Nanterre, near Paris, France June 27, 2021. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - French Far Right leader Marine Le Pen, facing criticism following defeat in last month's regional elections for making her party too mainstream, said on Sunday she would not change course.

"The National Rally (RN) has experienced a healthy change. We will not go back to the (old school) National Front," Le Pen said in a closing address at her party's two-day congress in the southern city of Perpignan.