Key facts
- French far-right leader Jordan Bardella's relationship with Italian princess Maria Carolina de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles is drawing political scrutiny.
- Critics argue the romance undermines Bardella's working-class image and his party's anti-elite platform.
- Bardella faced backlash for attending the Monaco Grand Prix with his girlfriend during a period of national mourning.
- Maria Carolina is heir to a significant family fortune held in offshore trusts.
- Bardella's communications team declined to comment for the story.
French far-right leader Jordan Bardella's relationship with Italian princess Maria Carolina de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles has become a political liability, challenging his party's working-class image. Critics argue the aristocratic romance, highlighted by their attendance at the Monaco Grand Prix during a national tragedy, creates a disconnect with the elite his party claims to oppose.
Bardella, known for his media discipline, faced criticism for his response to questions about the Monaco trip, with some in his party calling the images a "bad sequence." The scrutiny extends to his girlfriend's significant family fortune, estimated at over €130 million in offshore trusts, which contrasts sharply with Bardella's own narrative of a working-class upbringing.
Despite these concerns, Bardella remains a front-runner for the 2027 presidential election. While French leaders have historically had private lives shielded from the press, the issue of money touches a sensitive nerve. Bardella has stated his girlfriend does not engage in politics but is a significant part of his personal life.