Jordan Bardella, chairman of France’s far-right Rassemblement National and anointed future prime minister should presidential candidate Marine Le Pen win the keys to the Élysée Palace in 2027, faces intense scrutiny following the September 28, 2026 publication of a Mediapart investigation revealing private messages from his early political career that display obsessive anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories.
Private Messages Reveal Antisemitic Outbursts From 2013 to 2015
Investigative outlet Mediapart published findings from months of analyzing written conversations dating from 2013 to 2015, during which Jordan Bardella was an active activist and leader of the Front National branch in Seine-Saint-Denis. The authenticated exchanges show the 31-year-old MEP complaining that “all the banks are owned by Jews” and writing that “the Jew must dominated (sic) other peoples, crush them and rob them, a Zionist is necessarily and profoundly Jewish.” In the messages, Bardella singled out French public figures like Bernard-Henri Lévy and Jacques Attali while pushing narratives of a “New World Order dominated by Israel.”
Contradicting the Party’s De-Demonization Strategy
The disclosures directly challenge the polished public image Marine Le Pen and Bardella have cultivated over the past 15 years to present the party as a defender of French Jewish communities. While Le Pen publicly positioned the Front National—renamed the Rassemblement National in 2018—as a shield against antisemitism, Bardella wrote in private that “politics is all about communication,” indicating that public messaging differed entirely from private beliefs. He also praised the party’s foundational ideology under Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Fascination With Alain Soral and Extremist Networks
According to Mediapart’s reporting, Bardella immersed himself in the writings and videos of convicted anti-Semitic activist Alain Soral, praising his analyses as being borne out by facts. Bardella also maintained a relationship with Frédéric Chatillon, an old friend of Marine Le Pen linked to Soral’s circles.
Blanket Denial From the Rassemblement National Chairman
Contacted by Mediapart prior to publication, Jordan Bardella issued a blanket denial of the findings, calling them “crude fakes” and “a genuine dirty-tricks operation.” He argued that he was not an active campaigner during the summer of 2013 and was still a minor, though that claim contradicts statements in his 2024 autobiography Ce que je cherche and previous media interviews where he stated he joined the party in 2012 at age 16.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Mediapart Investigation
When were the private messages written?
The authenticated private conversations obtained by Mediapart date from a two-year period between 2013 and 2015, when Jordan Bardella was a young activist and local branch leader in Seine-Saint-Denis.
How has Jordan Bardella responded to the allegations?
Bardella categorically rejected the findings, dismissing the leaked messages as “crude fakes” and part of a dirty-tricks operation designed to harm his political career.
What impact does this have on the 2027 presidential election?
Marine Le Pen has named Bardella as her future prime minister should the far-right win in 2027.
Which figures influenced Bardella during his early career?
Witness accounts and internal documents show Bardella was heavily influenced by anti-Semitic ideologue Alain Soral and developed a relationship with Frédéric Chatillon, sharing many of their conspiracy theories regarding banking and geopolitical orders.
Worth a look