National Rally’s Jordan Bardella rails at ‘war’ on party after antisemitism claims

Jordan Bardella, head of France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, is facing calls to resign following the publication of alleged antisemitic comments he made as a teenager. Investigative website Mediapart reported the comments, which Bardella denies, calling it a "total war" to destabilize the party's presidential campaign. The alleged remarks, made between 2013 and 2015, include statements about Jewish people dominating and robbing others, and that banks are owned by Jews. Bardella, who plans legal action for defamation, stated the report aims to damage his career and the party's prospects ahead of the 2027 election. Marine Le Pen expressed full confidence in Bardella, while political opponents and Jewish organizations criticized the alleged comments, questioning the RN's claims of shedding its antisemitic past.

Jordan Bardella, president of France's National Rally (RN) party, announced he will sue for libel following a Mediapart report alleging he made antisemitic comments as a young activist in 2013. Mediapart claims to have authenticated dozens of written conversations from a larger documentary base corroborated by witness statements, though no screen-grabs were provided. Bardella, a potential prime minister if RN candidate Marine Le Pen wins the upcoming presidential election, condemned the allegations as a "total war" aimed at destabilizing his party's campaign. Le Pen expressed full confidence in Bardella, who stated the accusations are a fabrication intended to derail the RN's bid for power.

Jordan Bardella, president of France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, has denied allegations of anti-Semitism. This denial comes after the outlet Mediapart published a report claiming Bardella sent private anti-Semitic messages ten years ago. The report was released shortly after the RN secured a record 14 seats in the Senate, indicating the party's strong position ahead of next year's presidential elections. Bardella's refutation was made on Monday.

Investigative website Mediapart alleged on Monday that Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally party, made antisemitic comments in a 2013 chat. The report cited Bardella as writing that "The Jew has to dominate other peoples, crush them, and rob them; a Zionist is necessarily a Jew, and fundamentally so." Bardella, a close ally of presidential front runner Marine Le Pen, has dismissed the claims as fake. He has also filed a defamation lawsuit in response to the allegations.

France's far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies have achieved a significant victory in the recent Senate vote, securing a record 14 seats. This marks the first time the RN has gained enough seats to form its own caucus in the 348-seat chamber. The indirect election of senators saw the party quadruple its previous representation. RN leader Marine Le Pen described the outcome as a "historic victory" and a "major milestone." The RN's growing presence in the Senate comes months before the presidential election, for which Le Pen is preparing to run. The party's senators plan to form an alliance with the Union of the Right for the Republic.

France's far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies achieved a significant victory in recent Senate elections, securing a record 14 seats. This quadruples their previous representation in the 348-seat chamber and marks the first time the party has met the threshold to form a Senate caucus. RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen described the outcome as an "historic victory" that exceeded expectations. The results come just months before the presidential election, where Le Pen is considered a strong contender. The RN's gains include nine senators elected on Sunday, adding to three from 2023, and two from allied party Union of the Right for the Republic.

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party has achieved a significant victory in the French Senate elections held on Sunday. For the first time, the party has secured enough seats to form its own parliamentary group in the upper house. Marine Le Pen described the outcome as a "historic victory" and a "major milestone," stating that the results surpassed their expectations and confirmed the party's growing popularity nationwide. This development marks a substantial breakthrough for the National Rally in the French Senate.