Most of its former members, notably including Roberto Visentin, Pietro Fontanini, Sergio Cecotti, Rinaldo Bosco and Alessandra Guerra, left to join Lega Nord Friuli, which was formed in 1990–1991.

In 1966 a group of Friulian nationalists led by Gino di Caporiacco, Fausto Schiavi and Corrado Cecotto, who benefited from the convinced support of part of the Catholic clergy, launched the Friuli Movement, in order to represent Friulian autonomism in the newly-formed autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia,[1][2][3] composed of Friuli and Venezia Giulia.

[4][5] In the 1980s the party suffered a decline in term of votes and it was later replaced by Lega Nord Friuli, which was much more successful.

Since 1992 the party has been conducted by Marco De Agostini (secretary) and Adriano Ceschia (president).

In 2016 the MF celebrated its 50th anniversary,[9] during which its leaders hinted an electoral comeback under the leadership of Sergio Cecotti.