Le Pen says she will campaign for Bardella if barred from running for president

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally party, declared on Saturday that she will campaign alongside her protégé, Jordan Bardella, if legal proceedings prevent her from running for president. Le Pen faces a crucial ruling on July 7 from the Paris Court of Appeal regarding embezzlement charges. A conviction could result in a five-year ban from public office, immediately preventing her candidacy.

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If I cannot run, then with great energy and great conviction and great confidence, I will support Jordan Bardella's candidacy every day.

Speaking to supporters in Liévin, Le Pen emphasized the strong trust and shared convictions between her and Bardella, noting his leadership of the European election campaign in 2024 at just 23 years old. "If I cannot run, then with great energy and great conviction and great confidence, I will support Jordan Bardella's candidacy every day," she stated, referring to the presidential election in spring 2027.

Le Pen criticized the current French President Emmanuel Macron's administration, asserting that "everything is collapsing before our eyes." She pointed to failures in energy, agriculture, education, security, and housing, and described immigration as "out of control." She urged voters to reject the Macronists, stating, "It is time for them to go."

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Everything is collapsing before our eyes. There is nothing going well.

Polls currently suggest that either Le Pen or Bardella would secure enough votes to advance to the second round of the presidential election. The court's decision on July 7 is expected to be significant, potentially impacting the democratic functioning of the country.

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It is time for them to go.