Key facts
- RN president Jordan Bardella denies accusations of antisemitism published by Mediapart.
- Bardella claims the purported comments made as a teenager are "crude fakes" and plans defamation lawsuits.
- The scandal could hurt Marine Le Pen's presidential bid, especially in a run-off vote requiring broader support.
- A poll shows 74% of French people find the alleged messages problematic if true.
- Joseph Martin, a former RN candidate, stated Bardella should be held to the same standard he applied to him.
The National Rally (RN) party's efforts to rebrand and shed its historical association with antisemitism are being tested by accusations leveled against its president, Jordan Bardella. Investigative outlet Mediapart published purported antisemitic and conspiratorial comments Bardella allegedly made in online chats as a teenager.
Bardella has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them "crude fakes" and announcing his intention to file defamation lawsuits. The scandal represents a significant challenge to the 31-year-old's rapid political ascent and poses a headache for Marine Le Pen, the RN's presidential candidate, as she aims to win the presidency in the upcoming election.
Le Pen, who leads in polls, has spearheaded a decade-long rebranding of the RN. Bardella himself has visited Israel to demonstrate the party's departure from the antisemitism associated with its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen. However, Socialist lawmaker Guillaume Garot suggested the affair "shines a harsh light on what the National Rally really is," though he acknowledged that voter attention is divided among other concerns like the economy and geopolitics.
The RN leadership has largely rallied around Bardella, with Le Pen aide Renaud Labaye stating the scandal has "absolutely no impact on the ground whatsoever." An IFOP poll for LCI TV found that while 74% of French people consider the messages problematic if true, only 21% have seen their opinion of Bardella deteriorate. Bardella himself adopted a defiant stance at a press conference, telling a journalist, "Your little operation doesn't seem to be cutting through."
Political scientist Gilles Ivaldi noted that the RN's core voters, prioritizing issues like purchasing power and immigration, are unlikely to be swayed. However, he suggested the scandal could affect Le Pen in a run-off election, where she would need to attract conservative voters beyond the party's traditional base who pay closer attention to the RN's ideological profile.
The controversy also surfaces amid reported tensions between Le Pen and Bardella, her protégé, particularly after a court ruling allowed Le Pen to run for president. Bardella had been asserting more independence, and party officials suggest friction has increased, including over the RN's relationship with Le Pen's niece, Marion Maréchal. RN Senator Joshua Hochart acknowledged Bardella's willingness to voice disagreements, stating, "Bardella isn't just Marine Le Pen's protégé. His views count."
Despite Le Pen's backing, rivals and analysts believe Bardella has been weakened, with Ivaldi stating he is "no longer the major asset he was for her." Eric Zemmour, a far-right politician, suggested Bardella is being marginalized within the RN and will not become Le Pen's prime minister.