Le Pen backs Bardella after Mediapart alleges 2013 antisemitic posts
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French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said she has complete trust in National Rally leader Jordan Bardella after Mediapart accused him of writing antisemitic messages in 2013. Bardella denied the accusations and said he would take Mediapart to court. Le Pen's support came after the outlet published screenshots of alleged Facebook Messenger correspondence.
Key Facts
- Mediapart published accusations against Bardella on Monday and released screenshots of alleged Facebook Messenger correspondence on Thursday.
- Bardella said he would take Mediapart to court, calling the published materials fakes.
- Le Pen told La Tribune Dimanche that she had complete trust in Bardella.
- Bardella visited Israel in 2025, the first such visit by a French far-right leader.
- Polls indicated Le Pen has a chance of winning the 2027 presidential election.
The Accusations
Mediapart published the accusations against Bardella on Monday and released screenshots of his alleged Facebook Messenger correspondence on Thursday. The messages allegedly contained antisemitic statements from 2013, when Bardella was a teenager. Bardella categorically rejected the accusations and said his opponents were waging total war against him to prevent the National Rally from coming to power. He promised to take Mediapart to court, calling the published materials fakes.
Le Pen's Response
Le Pen initially repeated Bardella's denials while speaking alongside him before party lawmakers. After the screenshots emerged, she did not comment on the situation for some time. She later told La Tribune Dimanche that she had complete trust in her ally. Pollster Erwan Leker believes Le Pen backed Bardella in order not to alienate voters who would not have forgiven his removal. Leker suggested she could stop supporting him if the scandal harmed the party.
Political Stakes
Bardella was a key participant in Le Pen's strategy to de-demonize the party, distancing it from the antisemitic legacy of National Rally founder Jean-Marie Le Pen. In 2025, Bardella visited Israel, the first such visit by a French far-right leader. Cardiff University politics lecturer Marta Lorimer noted that Bardella's possible removal could be linked not only to the accusations but also to broader disagreements between him and Le Pen. Polls indicated Le Pen has a chance of winning the 2027 presidential election, and if elected, Bardella would likely head the government.
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