French far-right names 27-year-old Bardera as Le Pen’s successor

Bardera, who was widely expected to win as Le Pen’s successor, won 85% of the votes from party members, beating Louis Alliot, mayor of the southern city of Perpignan, who won 15%.

A beaming Le Pen will announce the results during a conference in Paris, and Bardera is expected to address the rally later Saturday.

His nomination was the highest ever, winning 89 seats in parliamentary elections earlier this year, despite Le Pen failing to displace Emmanuel Macron in his third presidential run. It was done after the results were obtained.

“After more than 40 years of struggle, the National Front has succeeded in bringing all the major issues facing our society to the center of public debate,” said Le Pen, the former name of the party. said by referring to

Bardera has embraced Le Pen’s efforts to abandon the vehemently anti-Semitic and extremist views promoted by her father, the party’s founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was exiled in 2015. It’s here.

But this week, the national rally was rocked by the suspension of one member of parliament accused of making racist remarks to a fellow parliamentarian.

Bardera also faces the difficult task of putting the party on a solid financial footing as it faces investigations into alleged misuse of public funds by party members, including Le Pen.

-Next Generation-

Raised in a gritty Parisian suburb by an Italian-born mother, Bardera promoted a sophisticated image, was rarely seen without a suit, and impressed both fans and critics with his sharp performances in election debates. I gave

“One of the things I am most proud of is helping to rise a new generation of leaders and legislators … people who look like people and communicate their aspirations,” Le Pen said. says.

But what an RN presidency will be worth to Bardera, given that Le Pen is officially leading its ranks in Congress and is widely expected to be the presidential candidate again in 2027. I have a question about

But party leaders could also be a stepping stone when the “MLP” finally disappears from politics at a time when populist parties are gaining momentum across much of Europe.

That said, both Bardera and Le Pen will cut their jobs to convince voters that their party is a worthy mainstream force, capable of uniting and governing the country.

This week they had to defend MP Grégoire de Furnas, who shouted “Go back to Africa!” To black lawmakers who challenged the government’s response to migrants rescued in Mediterranean waters.

Although he later said he was referring to the boat rather than fellow lawmakers, Interior Minister Gerald Dalmannin said on Friday that Berdella had shown he was complicit in “everyday racism”.

Bardera has also been criticized by Alliot, mayor of Perpignan and the only RN politician to run a city of over 100,000 people.

He accused him of promoting white supremacist groups and pointed out that Berdella gave credence to the so-called “great alternative” conspiracy theory of the secret “Islamization” of Europe organized by the elite. , Le Pen has avoided it.

In an open letter last month, Alliot accused “extremist nostalgia” and “National Front excesses of a bygone era.”

Bardera denounced him as “bitter and vicious” and claimed that his goal was to win more supporters from traditional parties on the right and left.