Marine Le Pen has expressed her full support for Jordan Bardella, her top ally, amid allegations of anti-Semitic comments made by Bardella as a teenager in 2013. The allegations, published by the Mediapart website, have put Bardella's political career at risk. Le Pen addressed party MPs alongside Bardella, echoing his denial of the allegations. This comes as polls suggest Le Pen is on course to win the presidency, with Bardella likely to become prime minister.
The allegations against Bardella surfaced after a significant rise in his political career, with the 31-year-old becoming a key figure in Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party. Bardella has been instrumental in implementing Le Pen's strategy of "de-demonisation" to distance the party from its toxic legacy. He made an unprecedented visit to Israel in 2025, demonstrating the RN's new credentials. However, the allegations have raised questions about his suitability for high office.
Bardella has chosen a strategy of all-out attack to deny the allegations, accusing his opponents of launching a "total war" to derail the RN's rise to the presidency. He vowed to take Mediapart to court for publishing what he described as fakes. Le Pen also fell into an uncharacteristic silence after screenshots of the messages were published, breaking only to express her confidence in Bardella.
The allegations have sparked debate about the RN's stance on anti-Semitism and its efforts to "de-demonise" the party. Sociologist Erwan Lecoeur suggested that Le Pen may eventually "pull the plug" on Bardella, arguing that his defiance is making the situation worse. However, lecturer in politics Marta Lorimer believes that Le Pen may not necessarily have to get rid of him.
There have been suggestions that some in the RN would like to see Bardella exit and be replaced by another figure, such as Eric Ciotti or Marion Maréchal. Murmurs have also echoed on social media that the allegations could have come from within the RN, sparking a hunt for the "mole". Bardella has acknowledged what is at stake, saying that the aim is to "kill my political career".
The allegations have also raised questions about Le Pen's leadership and her ability to manage the crisis. The RN has lined up to back Bardella, but Le Monde daily warned that this could have risks for Le Pen herself. The party is closing ranks in the hope that the storm will pass, but this could see the discredit attached to Bardella contaminate Le Pen's presidential campaign.
The crisis has sparked a wider debate about the RN's policies and its stance on issues such as anti-Semitism and the Muslim headscarf. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and Socialist leader Olivier Faure have both criticised Bardella's strategy of denial, with Darmanin asking if France wants a prime minister who is not only anti-Semitic but also lies to the public.
Key points
- Marine Le Pen has expressed her full support for Jordan Bardella amid allegations of anti-Semitic comments.
- The allegations have raised questions about the RN's stance on anti-Semitism and its efforts to "de-demonise" the party.
- Bardella's future depends on whether Mediapart has more allegations in the pipeline and Le Pen's continued support.
