Bardella, the far-right's custom suit, awaits a new opportunity

Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old rising star of France's far-right National Rally (RN), is poised to remain in the background for now, as his mentor Marine Le Pen officially launched her bid for the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen's decision to run, despite facing legal challenges related to a embezzlement conviction, sidelines Bardella's own presidential ambitions, at least temporarily.

Bardella, known for his sharp suits and polished demeanor, is the son of an Italian immigrant and has cultivated an image aimed at softening the RN's hardline stance, particularly on economic issues. The goal is to attract the business community, which has historically shunned the party due to proposals like leaving the Euro and costly social programs. His political narrative, however, remains rooted in his upbringing in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, a suburb of Paris with a large immigrant population.

He often describes his childhood neighborhood as a place plagued by "Islamism, with free rein for crime and drug trafficking." This narrative, he argues, fueled his early political engagement at age 17, as he sought to prevent "all of France" from becoming like his former area. Critics, however, point to a more privileged upbringing, noting that while he lived with his mother, he attended private schools and spent weekends with his father, a small businessman.

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The campaign begins now and we face an electoral appointment. I am happy that Marine can represent our movement.