Mégret did not agree with Le Pen's extreme political views, believing that it did not help with their public image. In 1998, Bruno Mégret left the Front National and founded the National Republican Movement (Mouvement National Républicain).[2]
He ran for president in the 2002 French presidential election. He received 2.33% of the vote, and did not advance to the second round. He endorsed Le Pen in the second round.
Mégret was sentenced to 8 months of probation and was fined 8,000 Euros after he used public funds to fund his presidential campaign.[3]