French National Rally (RN) President Jordan Bardella has confirmed he would step forward as a presidential candidate if de facto chief Marine Le Pen were unable to run.
The 29-year-old politician, seen as the heir to France’s right-wing National Rally, declared his readiness in an interview with Le Parisien published on April 26.
“At this moment, it is absolutely essential for us to remain united and cohesive. There is no ambiguity: Marine Le Pen is my candidate and if she were unable to run tomorrow, I believe I can say that I would be her candidate,” Bardella said.
Despite positioning himself as a potential successor, he was careful not to overshadow Le Pen.
The RN president and MEP emphasised his loyalty: “I won’t make the mistake of pushing myself forward. I believe that when Marine is attacked, I am attacked too.
“We will continue to work together, hand in hand, in the interest of the movement, our ideas, and our political family,” Bardella said.
He has emerged as the most likely candidate for France’s largest right-wing party in the 2027 election following Le Pen’s legal troubles.
She was found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to an immediate five-year ban from holding public office.
She had been accused of misusing over millions in European Parliament funds to pay individuals officially employed as MEP assistants but who largely worked on RN activities.
Le Pen has appealed the verdict.
Bardella will be just 31 years old, making him the youngest candidate for the role in French history.
Although it was still too early to make definitive predictions, he has been considered one of the favourites for the upcoming election, according to the polls.
Bardella’s experience in the political arena was, though, still limited. His most significant attempt as RN leader chief ended in disappointment for the party in 2024, with it failing to secure a majority in parliament, ultimately preventing him from becoming prime minister.
He has argued that his lack of political experience was not an impediment.
“I’m not going to invent 40 years of political life for myself. The French know me: I’ve been in politics for 15 years and at a high level for seven, ” he said.
Nevertheless, Le Pen has not lost all hope for her own chances and recently expressed determination to remain in the French presidential race.
Marine Le Pen has declared her determination to remain in the race for France’s next presidential election in 2027 – despite an ineligibility sentence that bars her from running. https://t.co/eG4TrAwsXC
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) April 11, 2025
