Le Pen continues to back Bardella amid antisemitism allegations
The leader of France's Rassemblement National denies writing old posts attributed to him by Mediapart.
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Marine Le Pen continues to publicly support Jordan Bardella after Mediapart attributed antisemitic statements from his youth to him. Bardella denies writing the posts and says he is considering legal action.
The issue arises as France prepares for the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen has put Bardella forward as her intended prime minister if she becomes president. Bardella is leader of Rassemblement National, the party that under Le Pen is seeking to distance itself from the antisemitic past of its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Mediapart published posts that the investigative website says came from old private conversations. The texts are said to date from the period when Bardella was still young. Bardella says the posts are not his and calls the publication an attempt to damage his political career and his party's campaign.
Le Pen has expressed her confidence in Bardella. In doing so, she is opting for party unity and continuity, but she is also running the risk that the issue will remain part of the campaign. National Rally itself has described the allegations as an attack on the party.
The available reporting does not establish who wrote the posts. Mediapart says it authenticated the exchanged messages, but Bardella disputes the attribution. So far, there has been no court ruling on the authenticity or authorship.
The case touches on National Rally's broader strategy of making the party more acceptable to a larger electorate. For years, Le Pen has sought to reduce the association with her father's past. Allegations of antisemitism are putting that strategy under renewed pressure.
For French politics, what matters above all is that Bardella plays a central role in the succession to President Emmanuel Macron, who cannot stand for a third consecutive term. The controversy does not automatically determine the election result, but it may affect the party's credibility and the responses of other political movements.
The central news, therefore, is not that the allegations have been proven, but that they affect the campaign and that the party leadership has chosen to continue supporting Bardella. New information about the origin and authenticity of the posts could still change the picture.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Mediapart has attributed old posts to Bardella.
- Bardella denies writing the posts.
- Le Pen has expressed her confidence in Bardella.
- The issue arises in the run-up to the 2027 French presidential election.
- No court finding on authorship is included in the sources consulted.
Left
Arguments The party must provide full clarity about the origin of the posts and hold leaders accountable for antisemitic statements, even if they date from their youth. According to this approach, the normalisation of radical ideas poses a democratic risk.
Values Protection of minorities, anti-racism and political responsibility.
Consequences A firm response could increase confidence in the party if it distances itself, but could also lead to further polarisation.
Centre
Arguments Allegations must be investigated seriously, but political conclusions should only follow once authenticity and authorship have been verifiably established.
Values Factual care, the rule of law and equal treatment.
Consequences A procedural approach could prevent escalation, but would leave the party facing reputational damage and uncertainty for the time being.
Right
Arguments National Rally sees the case as a political attack and believes voters should judge the current programme above all. From this perspective, old, disputed posts should not determine someone's political career without evidence.
Values Presumption of innocence, political competition and protection against media campaigns.
Consequences This position could hold the party base together, but would increase criticism if authentic evidence later emerges.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article clearly distinguishes between established public reactions and disputed allegations. The electoral context and Bardella's role have been checked against AP and official French information.
- confirmed Marine Le Pen continues to support Jordan Bardella. — AP and The Guardian describe her public support. source
- confirmed Mediapart has attributed old posts to Bardella. — Reporting by AP and The Guardian describes the publication and the attribution. source
- confirmed Bardella denies authorship and is considering legal action. — Reported by AP and The Guardian. source
- confirmed The authorship and authenticity have not been independently established. — The sources describe both Mediapart's claim and the denial; no court finding is mentioned. source
- confirmed The French presidential election is scheduled for 2027. — Official French government information lists 2027 as the next presidential election. source
Editor's note
The public support from Le Pen, Bardella's denial and the existence of the political controversy are certain. The authorship and authenticity of the private messages have not been independently established.Sources
- National Rally's Jordan Bardella denies antisemitic remarks as Le Pen stands by him — Associated Press
- National Rally’s Jordan Bardella rails at ‘war’ on party after antisemitism claims — The Guardian
- Quelles sont les dates des prochaines élections ? — Service-Public.fr
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „frankrijk marine le pen”
- Trouw — „frankrijk marine le pen”
- NRC — „frankrijk marine le pen”