French Right in Flux: Le Pen’s Legal Woes Spark Leadership Race
PARIS — May 24, 2024 — A leadership race has been sparked on the French right wing amid Marine Le Pen’s legal challenges. Key figures,including Jordan Bardella,are emerging as potential successors. The French right’s future is at a pivotal moment,uncertain of who will lead the Rassemblement National,and political analysts are weighing in on this matter. Experts predict the outcome will shift the entire political landscape.
French right in Flux: Le Pen’s Legal Woes Spark Leadership Race
The Shifting sands of the French Right
Marine Le Pen’s conviction in the European parliamentary assistants affair has sent ripples through the French right wing. The potential failure of her appeal could force the Rassemblement National (RN) to consider a future without the prominent figure. This uncertainty has ignited a leadership contest, with Jordan Bardella, the party’s current president, and Marion Maréchal, representing another facet of the Le Pen legacy, emerging as key contenders.
Bardella vs.Maréchal: A Brewing Rivalry?
Tensions, whether real or perceived, are reportedly simmering between Jordan Bardella and Marion Maréchal. Maréchal, who now leads her own party, Identité Libertés, rejoined the RN after leaving Éric Zemmour’s Reconquête party.She has pledged loyalty to her aunt’s presidential ambitions while maintaining ideological independence. Though, navigating this position presents ongoing challenges.
did you know? Marion Maréchal is the granddaughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the front National, which later became the Rassemblement National. Her return to the party has been closely watched, given her distinct conservative views.
An incident on april 6th highlighted these tensions. At a gathering of Le Pen’s supporters in Paris, Maréchal reportedly found herself without a reserved spot in the front row. Furthermore, she was allegedly asked to remove the logo of Identité Libertés from the event’s poster.
According to Libération, she was also asked to remove the logo of her political group, Identité Libertés, from the poster calling for the demonstration.
Limited Exchanges and Lingering Memories
Joint trips to the United States and Israel saw limited interaction between Maréchal and Bardella. Bardella reportedly fears a confrontation with Maréchal, who holds considerable sway among conservative voters. Maréchal’s past within the RN, and her subsequent departure and return, have left some unresolved issues.
Navigating the European Parliament and Conservative Appeal
In the European Parliament, Bardella and Maréchal are compelled to collaborate.The RN recognizes the importance of appealing to Maréchal’s conservative base to broaden its support beyond its core constituency of working-class voters seeking security and economic improvement.
Pro Tip: Political parties frequently enough need to balance appealing to their core supporters while also reaching out to new demographics.This can involve carefully calibrating their messaging and policy positions.
The RN has recently emphasized socially conservative positions, notably on issues like euthanasia. Julien Odoul, a member of parliament, has publicly condemned proposed changes to end-of-life legislation.Jordan Bardella himself published an article in Le Journal du Dimanche, opposing assisted suicide and advocating for palliative care as a national priority. The real progress is care, not death,
he asserted, a stance that has reportedly irked the more progressive elements within the RN who view it as pandering to the conventional Catholic electorate.
Bardella vs. Le Pen: The succession Question
A separate dynamic is unfolding between Bardella and le Pen. The official line maintains that le Pen intends to exhaust all legal options to run in the 2027 presidential election. Though, Bardella is reportedly prepared
for any eventuality, should Le Pen’s legal challenges prove unsuccessful.
Poll Results shake the Nationalist Camp
A recent poll has stirred considerable debate within the nationalist movement. The poll indicated that Jordan Bardella would win in the second round of the presidential election against all potential opponents, except for Édouard philippe, the former prime minister, against whom he is tied. Marine Le Pen,when tested in the same scenarios,achieved lower results,losing to Philippe.
According to the newspaper Le Monde, the poll, commissioned by the think-tank Hexagone and funded by conservative billionaire Pierre-Edouard Stérin, initially planned to submit only options with Bardella. But Le Pen’s entourage intervened to have the party’s historic candidate tested as well—ultimately to her detriment.
The poll’s findings are seen as a setback for Le Pen, suggesting that Bardella is gaining ground as a potential presidential candidate. Bardella could perhaps enter the presidential race without the burden of legal controversies.
The Road to 2027
with two years remaining until the presidential election, the race remains highly competitive. the outcome is uncertain, and it is indeed arduous to predict who will ultimately emerge victorious.
