Marine Le Pen has defended National Rally president Jordan Bardella against accusations of antisemitism, dismissing an investigation into his past writings as a political manipulation.
Addressing her party's senators at the French National Assembly, Le Pen said the party would not let itself be intimidated. She launched multiple attacks against the investigative news outlet Mediapart, which published the claims, in an effort to defend her ranks.
The controversy centers on a Mediapart report that attributed several antisemitic writings to Bardella.
Arriving at the Assembly, Bardella strongly denied making the antisemitic remarks. The party president said there was an attempt to assassinate him politically.
Senate Gathering Overshadowed
The National Rally leadership initially organized the gathering at the lower house of the French Parliament to celebrate new elections to the Senate. However, attention quickly shifted to the allegations published by the investigative outlet.
Mediapart is a prominent independent French news website with a history of publishing extensive political and financial investigations. Founded by former Le Monde editors, the publication operates without advertising and has broken numerous high-profile political scandals in France.
Bardella serves as the president of the National Rally, having taken over the leadership role from Le Pen. He is the first person outside the Le Pen family to lead the party. Le Pen herself remains the party's primary figurehead and its leader in parliament, having run for the French presidency on three occasions.
Party's Rebranding Efforts
The National Rally, historically known as the National Front, is France's leading far-right political party. For over a decade, Le Pen has spearheaded an effort to moderate the party's image and broaden its appeal.
This strategy has explicitly involved distancing the organization from its historical associations with extremism and antisemitism. Her father and the party's founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, faced multiple convictions related to antisemitic speech.
The French Parliament consists of two chambers: the directly elected National Assembly and the Senate, which local representatives elect. The National Rally has historically focused its efforts on the National Assembly.
The Senate relies on an electoral college of local officials. This makes the celebration of newly elected senators a notable milestone for the party's leadership, before the Mediapart investigation overshadowed the event.
Other Political Developments
In other French political developments, Ecologist party leader Marine Tondelier opted to attend a climate march rather than a mass held by Pope Leo XIV. Polling expert Frédéric Dabi said her decision allowed her to stand out and build proximity with the public.
The Pope was visiting Lourdes, a major Catholic pilgrimage site in southwestern France, where he addressed end-of-life issues. The pontiff asserted that what is legal is not necessarily moral.
Meanwhile, during a September 29 strike, General Confederation of Labour leader Sophie Binet spoke from a demonstration to criticize government financial plans. She said the budget was dangerous for the country.
Sociologist Laurent Frajerman analyzed recent school blockades, noting the difficulty of maintaining a structured high school union. He said the situation presented an ideal opportunity for the left-wing France Unbowed party.
Strikes in Ukraine
Outside of France, a fire ravaged the Academy of Sciences in the heart of Kiev following a new Russian military strike. Reports indicated that Russian forces could strike wherever and whenever they wanted.
