A French investigative journalism website, Mediapart, has published screenshots of antisemitic messages that it claims were sent by Jordan Bardella, the de facto deputy of far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, on Facebook's Messenger chat platform in 2013. The messages have sparked controversy just seven months out from the French presidential election, where Le Pen is leading opinion polls. Bardella, 31, has strongly denied writing the messages.
Mediapart said it was able to authenticate the messages through biographical details revealed in the conversations, including a mother born in Italy, mention of an interview Bardella gave to Le Parisien in 2013, and failing the entrance exam for the prestigious Sciences Po university. The outlet claims that analyzing the content of the conversation makes it possible to verify that it is indeed the real Jordan Bardella. Bardella has denounced the allegations as "crude fabrications" and "pseudo-evidence."
Bardella has announced that he will file a legal case against Mediapart for defamation, as well as "forgery and use of forgeries." The allegations against Bardella come at a critical time, as he is expected to become prime minister if Le Pen wins next year's election. The affair threatens to damage Le Pen's "de-demonisation" project to make her National Rally (RN) party more palatable to voters.
Le Pen has strongly defended Bardella, voicing her "total confidence" in him and denouncing a "total war" against her party. She is riding high in the polls, and a recent poll suggested that she would easily lead the first round of next year's election and go on to defeat any challenger in the second round run-off. Bardella has helped the party make inroads among younger voters.
Rival presidential candidate and former prime minister Edouard Philippe has weighed in on the controversy, saying that in light of the new evidence from Mediapart, "it is virtually established" that Bardella made remarks "of an obviously and scandalously antisemitic nature." The allegations have sparked a heated debate about the RN party's stance on antisemitism.
Mediapart published the contested messages on Monday, dating back to when Bardella was a young party activist. The outlet claims that extracting the conversation makes it possible to date it, to certify that this conversation was not altered after the fact, and to confirm that the person on the other end is listed by Meta/Facebook under the name Jordan Bardella.
The controversy surrounding Bardella's alleged antisemitic messages has raised questions about the RN party's ability to shed its far-right image and appeal to a broader range of voters. Le Pen's fourth attempt to win the presidency will be closely watched, amid concerns about the party's stance on antisemitism and other issues.
Key points
- Mediapart claims to have authenticated antisemitic messages from 2013 attributed to Jordan Bardella.
- Bardella has strongly denied writing the messages and plans to file a legal case against Mediapart.
- The allegations threaten to damage Le Pen's "de-demonisation" project and her chances in the presidential election.
