Jordan Bardella, president of France’s hard‑right National Rally, is threatening a libel lawsuit after Mediapart revealed what it says were antisemitic remarks from 2013.
In its story, Mediapart presents the alleged exchanges as part of a “several months” investigation into written conversations made by the 31‑year‑old when he was a young activist. The violation claims include statements such as “All the banks are owned by Jews” and “What they want is a new world order dominated by Israel.”
Bardella dismissed the revelations as a fabrication designed to sabotage his party’s campaign. He accused Mediapart of either running a deliberate “opposition operation” or being manipulated by “interested parties.” The nationalist leader told CNews that he would have his lawyer file a libel action the very next day.
Marine Le Pen, RN’s presidential candidate, shot back that the allegations “seem so weird that they can only be a forgery.” She added that Mediapart was known for “dirty tricks.”
National Rally supporters claim the source of the material is a disgruntled ex‑member expelled for antisemitic views in the early 2010s. The party states it has worked hard to distance itself from its legacy of antisemitism, even hosting a conference in Israel last year.
Beyond the legal threat, the controversy arrives as RN polls have seen a steady climb, with Marine Le Pen projected to win the upcoming presidential election. The simmering debate reflects a larger conversation about bias, defamation and the limits of political rhetoric.
