'Mister Selfie' Jordan Bardella: Who is the 30-year-old radical right leader?

Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of France's far-right Rassemblement National party, is set to deliver a lecture at the Flemish Parliament. Bardella and his party are seen as figureheads for parties like Vlaams Belang and other radical right-wing movements across Europe, with protests anticipated during his visit.

Despite his youth, Bardella boasts an extensive political career, establishing himself as one of France's most popular politicians. Since 2022, he has led the Rassemblement National, a position Marine Le Pen believed he was suited for due to his approachable demeanor, sharp suits, and active social media engagement. Le Pen herself had been working since 2011 to steer the party away from its more controversial past, aiming to shed its antisemitic and openly racist image to appeal to a broader electorate.

Bardella embodies this new generation of the radical right, though his roots in the party run deep. He joined the then-Front National at 16 and was elected to a regional election list at 20. He served as Marine Le Pen's spokesperson during the 2017 presidential campaign and subsequently represented his party in the European Parliament.

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the new face

His rise to party president in 2022, at just 27, was a landmark moment, marking the first time in 50 years that a non-Le Pen led the Rassemblement National. Critics, however, suggest his position was secured due to his close ties to the Le Pen family; he considers Marine his "second mother" and was previously in a relationship with her niece, Nolwenn Olivier.

Bardella's public image has been carefully cultivated through intensive media training. He maintains a significant presence on social media, with over 1.3 million followers on Instagram and 2.3 million on TikTok, projecting an image that resonates with younger voters.

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his second mother