Support for Le Pen and Bardera in Upcoming Elections

Marion Maréchal, who leads the Identity Freedom Party in the European Parliament, has expressed her intention to back Marine Le Pen and Jourdan Bardera in the next presidential election in France.

Marechal, who is part of the Le Pen family and previously supported Eric Zemmour during the 2022 presidential race, has confirmed that she will not run as a candidate this time. Instead, she will endorse the National Rally’s candidate.

In an interview with BFMTV on Sunday, she shared her hopes for Marine Le Pen to be eligible to run for the National Assembly in 2027. “I really hope the judicial system allows the French people to choose their own presidential candidate. It shouldn’t be the judges deciding who can be president,” she remarked.

Currently, Le Pen is appealing a sentence that she received last year, described as a “political death sentence,” for allegedly mishandling EU parliamentary funds. This penalty includes a four-year prison sentence along with a five-year prohibition on participating in French elections. The appeal is pending, with a resolution expected this summer.

If, for any reason, Le Pen cannot compete, Maréchal indicated she would support Jourdan Bardera, the 31-year-old vice president of the party, as he reflects Le Pen’s values and vision.

“Jordan Bardera understands the weight of responsibility he carries. He seems to be preparing for this possibility very seriously, especially with the strong team he has around him. I trust his capability to lead this fight,” she stated.

Maréchal is viewed as a potential successor to the political movement initiated by her grandfather, Jean-Marie Le Pen. Her decision could enhance Bardera’s chances of gaining traction among the right-wing factions in France if Le Pen is sidelined.

While Maréchal has shown interest in a comeback after separating from Zemmour, Bardera seems somewhat distant from her. Yet, they appeared together last week at Maréchal’s book launch, marking the first time they’ve been photographed together in years.

The development might signal a significant push toward forming a “right-wing coalition,” although challenges remain. Eric Zemmour, an anti-immigration figure, has not declared his intentions for another presidential run but continues his attempts at political resurgence, while Sara Knafo, a member of the House of Representatives, is actively campaigning for the mayoral position in Paris.

It’s unclear where former Interior Minister Bruno Letailot will fit into this scenario. Speculation regarding his candidacy is prevalent, but national polls haven’t reflected any significant shifts so far.

Previously, Eric Ciotti, a former Republican colleague of Letailot’s, broke away from the centrist party to support Le Pen in the last election. He, alongside others, has urged Macron to reconsider his government’s ideological stance and consider forming a right-wing coalition.