French presidential race: Marine Le Pen’s back-to-school campaign plan hits trouble

Marine Le Pen’s return to the campaign trail has already been complicated by internal disputes in the National Rally, just weeks after a legal decision cleared the way for her to stand in the 2027 presidential election.

A break with an adviser to Jordan Bardella and a confused debate over banning the wearing of the headscarf have put pressure on the National Rally’s return to political activity. The developments have highlighted differences among senior party figures, described as competing sensitivities and nuances, and revived questions about the solidity of the nationalist ticket formed by Le Pen and Bardella.

The party’s 2026 rentrée has not unfolded as Le Pen and her allies expected. They believe the 2027 contest could finally bring her victory, making this the most important presidential campaign of her career. Yet the opening weeks have been marked by public disagreements rather than a clear, unified message.

The latest tensions began on Sunday with an appearance by Jean-Philippe Tanguy, the National Rally deputy for the Somme and Le Pen’s right-hand man in the National Assembly. His intervention came as the party tried to establish its campaign line and project unity ahead of the presidential race.