French far right’s Le Pen asks protege to prep for 2027 presidential bid

Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right leader, has made a public suggestion that Jordan Bardella, her political heir apparent, could replace her in the 2027 presidential election due to a court decision that threatens to stymie her candidacy.

The National Rally (RN) party leader said, “I accept that I cannot run,” in an interview that was released on Wednesday by the French magazine Valeurs Actuelles. Jordan accepts that Jordan must intervene. I personally asked him to consider it and make plans for it.

Le Pen’s statement is the most obvious indication to date that the three-time presidential candidate is getting ready for a serious side effect. She was found guilty of embezzling funds from the European Union and given a five-year prison sentence in France in March. She has contacted us.

The consequences are profound, even though Le Pen has called the decision a “witch hunt” and a “political decision.” Just one year before the election, a Paris appeals court is expected to rule on the case in 2026. She could still compete in the race if Le Pen’s sentence is reduced or overturned.

Le Pen said, “Jordan and I will continue to support the president’s primary until the case is decided.”

“The situation is undoubtedly not ideal. What else do you recommend, though? that I kill myself before I commit suicide”?

Le Pen warned that preventing her from running could sour the political landscape and further alienate voters. Regardless of their political beliefs, she said, “Many French people would then realize that the game’s rules have been manipulated.”

Le Pen’s endorsement has not yet been made public, and Bardella and Le Pen have long refrained from talking about internal power struggles. As Bardella’s profile grows, there is still lingering rumors about their working relationship.

Le Pen took over the parliamentary duties while Bardella, 29, was elected president of the National Rally in 2022. Although some people question how he would hold up in a high-pressure debate, his rise has been meteoric as a result of his media savvy and polished image.

Le Pen jokingly downplayed Bardella’s running for president in April, claiming that he would support the party “if I were hit by a truck.”

Under the country’s electoral laws, President Emmanuel Macron’s party, which is led by the liberal-centrism Renaissance, is prohibited from running for reelection. Few prominent figures have officially declared their candidacy for 2027 besides centre-right former prime minister Edouard Philippe.