Jordan Bardella, the leader of France’s far-right party, National Rally, has stated that he is prepared to replace Marine Le Pen as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2027 elections, should she be disqualified due to her ongoing legal troubles.
Bardella outlined his readiness to take on the role if Le Pen is barred from running, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bardella’s interview with Le Parisien.
Thus, Bardella, who serves as a prominent figure in the far-right political movement, made it clear that he views himself as the party’s natural candidate in the event that Le Pen faces legal obstacles preventing her from running.
"We must remain united and cohesive. There is no ambiguity in the fact that Marine Le Pen is my candidate. But if she is not allowed to run tomorrow, I can assure you that I will step in as her candidate. I couldn’t be more clear," Bardella emphasised.
He also spoke on the party’s commitment to defending Le Pen and challenging her legal conviction, pledging that National Rally would utilize all means available to prove her innocence. Furthermore, Bardella revealed that, should Le Pen be cleared to run and subsequently win the presidency, he would be ready to take on the role of prime minister.
"I am working and preparing for the future. The expectations for a prime minister are similar to those of a presidential candidate. While the positions differ, the ability to unite, listen, and understand the concerns of the French people are qualities that I have focused on for several months now," he added.
On March 31, a Paris court found Marine Le Pen and 26 other individuals guilty of embezzling public funds in the case involving fake assistants in the European Parliament. Among those convicted were eight Members of the European Parliament from Le Pen's party, the National Rally. As part of the verdict, Le Pen was banned from running for elected office for five years, raising questions about her ability to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
At the same time, the Paris Court of Appeals has stated that it will issue a ruling in summer 2026, meaning that Le Pen still has a chance to run if the verdict is overturned or modified. Le Pen, who is currently the most popular candidate for the French presidency, has described the court's ruling as a "political decision" and vowed to continue her campaign for the 2027 election.
By Naila Huseynova
Source: caliber.az
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