French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party leader Jordan Bardella has filed a lawsuit over antisemitism claims made against him. Bardella, a close ally of Marine Le Pen, denied the allegations published by investigative website Mediapart. He described the claims as an attempt to "kill my political career" and destabilize the presidential campaign. Le Pen expressed her "total confidence" in Bardella, who is tipped to become prime minister if she wins the presidency in 2027.
The allegations against Bardella are based on private written conversations reportedly written by him in the summer of 2013, when he was 17-18 years old. Mediapart claims to have authenticated the messages, which include statements such as "Banks are all owned by Jews" and "The Jew must dominate other peoples, crush them and rob them." The website did not specify who received the messages or publish any screen grabs of the extracts.
Several members of the RN party have defended Bardella, describing the allegations as "completely delusional" and "defamation and caricature." Eric Ciotti, president of the UDR party, an ally of the RN, said the attacks against Bardella are taking place because Marine Le Pen is on the verge of becoming President of the Republic.
The revelations come two days after the RN made historic gains in the French Senate elections, winning enough seats to form a faction in the chamber for the first time. Le Monde daily described it as a "breakthrough" for the movement and a "warning" for other parties. The RN's success has raised concerns among anti-racism organizations and Jewish groups.
Anti-discrimination minister Aurore Bergé described the comments attributed to Bardella as "extremely serious" and reminiscent of the far right's true nature. Green politician and presidential hopeful Marine Tondelier called for Bardella to resign from all his positions, describing him as an "obsessive antisemite."
A poll published recently suggested that Le Pen would easily lead the first round of voting in the 2027 presidential election and defeat any challenger in the second round run-off. Le Pen vowed that the RN would "counterattack" against its opponents, who she said would do "absolutely anything" to derail her momentum.
Bardella has been a key player in Le Pen's project of "de-demonisation" to make the RN into an electable force. He made an unprecedented visit to Israel in 2025, the first by a French far-right leader, in a bid to demonstrate the RN's new credentials. However, some Jewish groups have questioned the party's commitment to fighting antisemitism.
Key points
- French far-right leader Jordan Bardella denies antisemitism claims
- RN party makes historic gains in French Senate elections
- Le Pen expresses "total confidence" in Bardella amidst allegations
