Surge in Popularity for National Rally Leader Following Riots in France

In light of the recent riots that swept across France, the approval ratings for National Rally leader Jordan Bardella have reached unprecedented levels, significantly ahead of other presidential candidates.

A recent poll conducted by France le figaro indicated an increase of six points in Bardella’s public approval, bringing it to 47%, following the unrest that took place from May 31 to June 2. This wave of violence erupted in the wake of numerous victories by the Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Voters appear to be seeking a tougher stance compared to President Emmanuel Macron’s more liberal government. Bardella has taken a strong position on law and order and has connected the ongoing unrest to immigration policies affecting the country.

While this doesn’t directly reflect voting intentions, it does show Bardella’s growing appeal, seemingly surpassing his long-time political mentor, Marine Le Pen, who maintained a 40% approval rating in the same survey.

Currently, Bardella is perceived as a potential “plan B” for the National Rally if Le Pen happens to be disqualified from participating in the upcoming European elections due to a controversial conviction related to EU fund misuse, a matter that is still under appeal. Interestingly, some polls hint that Bardella could perform even better than Le Pen in an election.

If the ban remains in place, it would mark the first time since 1981 that either Marine or her father Jean-Marie Le Pen won’t appear on the presidential ballot. Le Pen, despite being an influential political figure, not being on the ballot might affect the establishment’s chances to rally votes against far-right candidates.

Bardella, though still relatively young, has been engaged in party politics since his younger days, working closely with Le Pen for nearly a decade. He recently led the National Rally to a victory in the 2024 European Parliament elections.

There’s also a chance that Bardella could run on a collaborative ticket, with Le Pen suggesting she would appoint him as prime minister if successful in the 2027 elections. However, since the president holds the power to appoint a prime minister, Bardella could still choose Le Pen for the role, overriding any potential ban.

As it stands, both Bardella and Le Pen seem to outpace other candidates. The next closest contender, Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre and former prime minister, registered a 29% approval, down two points recently due to a corruption investigation affecting his office.

Other candidates in the running include former interior minister Bruno Lemaire with 24%, Gérald Darmanin at 22%, left-liberal Raphael Glucksmann with 19%, anti-immigration advocate Eric Zemmour at 17%, and far-left LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 16%.

It’s likely support for Bardella could strengthen if upcoming elections narrow the field of challengers for the National Rally, especially with Mélenchon possibly remaining as the lone competitor. The capability of populist parties to break through and gain power in Paris next year is yet to be seen.