In a move that could influence France’s remaining presidential campaign months, National Rally president Jordan Bardella announced that he will sue Mediapart for libel after the outlet released a series of alleged antisemitic remarks he supposedly made as a young activist in 2013.
According to the article on Mediapart’s website, the comments were extracted from a series of phone conversations and independently authenticated by the investigative team, although the site has not released screenshots of the alleged text.
Bardella – 31, who has been touted as a prime‑ministerial prospect if Marine Le Pen wins the 2027 vote – dismissed the accusations as a political attack, saying the beginnings of a total war were aimed at screwing up the RN’s electoral momentum.
Marine Le Pen, the party’s rallying figure, described the alleged remarks as so weird that they must be forged and praised the RN’s efforts to distance itself from its far‑right roots.
The controversy has reignited discussion over antisemitism within France’s hard‑right ranks. While the RN has recently branded itself a shield for the Jewish community after calling Islamist extremism a top threat, the accusations from 2013 suggest remnants of older worldviews may still exist.
Political analysts note that the timing of the claim – just seven months before the election – coincides with a period of rising support for the RN, with polls showing Marine Le Pen poised to overcome her rivals in a potential second round.
In response, RN deputy Jean‑Philippe Tanguy quoted former expelled members who claimed the accusations were fabricated by antisemitic rabble long purged from the party.
The case will test the limits of media freedom and defamation law in France, with Bardella preparing to bring the matter before the courts to defend his reputation.
