May 2, 1988: when Charles Pasqua reaches out to the FN

Un second round is always an equation. How to add the votes of the eliminated without subtracting, by dint of too strong concessions, the votes of the faithful allies. Multiply without dividing. In 1988, the equation seems impossible to solve. Jacques Chirac, outgoing Prime Minister, is largely outdistanced by François Mitterrand, majestic from the top of his 34.10%. However, the caciques of the RPR have made their calculation: if we add to the 19.9% ​​of Chirac the 16.55% of Raymond Barre (UDF) and the 14.39% of Jean-Marie Le Pen (FN), we obtain almost 51%, so victory is possible. If the votes of the centrist seem acquired, the others are more difficult to collect.

In 1988, despite his four million votes, Le Pen looked like the devil. A year earlier, his release on the cha…