Bardella confirms far-right run for French president if Le Pen banned

Bardella confirms far-right run for French president if Le Pen banned

Paris (Reuters) - Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old president of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party, has confirmed that he will run for president in 2027 if Marine Le Pen, the party's leader, remains barred from running due to a recent court ruling. Le Pen, who has previously run for president three times, was found guilty of misappropriating funds and is currently appealing the ruling.

Bardella, who was not implicated in the case, told Le Parisien newspaper that there is no ambiguity about the fact that Marine Le Pen is his candidate. "If she was prevented from running tomorrow, I think I would be able to say to you that I will be the candidate," he said. "Marine is presumed innocent and we will continue to use all possible means to continue to proclaim our innocence in this matter."

Under French law, a citizen must be over the age of 18 to run for president, and Bardella, being 29, is eligible. The court case, which found Le Pen and some members of her party guilty, has sparked controversy and anger among far-right supporters, who view it as a politically motivated attack on Le Pen's presidential bid.

The far-right's popularity in France has been growing, with Le Pen receiving almost 13 million votes in the 2022 presidential election. The conviction of Le Pen and the potential rise of Bardella could further solidify the far-right's grip on French politics. However, the future remains uncertain, and the political landscape in France is poised for significant changes in the coming years.

References:
[1] https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-04-27/bardella-frances-national-rally-president-set-to-run-in-2027-if-le-pen-cannot
[2] https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/a-fraught-moment-in-french-politics/3818547/