French Far-Right Leader Accused of Antisemitic Remarks

A French investigative journalism website, Mediapart, has published a report alleging that Jordan Bardella, the 31-year-old leader of the far-right National Rally party and close ally of Marine Le Pen, made antisemitic and conspiratorial remarks in private online chats in 2013 when he was a teenager. The alleged comments, verified by Mediapart, include statements such as "Jews must control other peoples, erase and steal from other peoples," "Zionist is necessarily Jewish," and "all banks are controlled by Jews." Another alleged quote stated, "And this is what they want: a new world order controlled by Israel, with Jerusalem as the capital, of course."

The report has sparked significant political backlash in France. Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, expressed shock at the severity of the alleged statements, questioning how someone can claim to fight antisemitism while providing a haven for identitarians who spread such rhetoric. French Minister Delegate for Equality, Aurore Bergé, stated that if verified, the remarks are extremely serious and reveal the "true nature of the extreme right."

Bardella and Le Pen have vehemently denied the accusations, dismissing them as "gross fabrications" and a political attack. Bardella announced his intention to take legal action, with his lawyer reportedly filing a defamation suit. Le Pen defended Bardella, stating she believes the attributed comments are untrue and accused Mediapart of "dirty tricks."

The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the National Rally, as Bardella is a key figure in Le Pen's efforts to "clean up" the party's image and distance it from the antisemitic legacy of Marine Le Pen's father. Bardella visited Israel last year as part of these image-polishing efforts. The allegations surface as Le Pen's standing for the 2027 presidential election appears strong, with recent polls showing her leading in the first round and projected to win a second-round runoff. The party also recently achieved a significant milestone by securing enough seats in the Senate to form a group for the first time.