Bardella denies Mediapart report of antisemitic messages

Investigative outlet Mediapart reported that private messages it says it authenticated show Jordan Bardella, now leader of France’s far-right National Rally, making antisemitic and conspiratorial remarks in 2013, when he was a teenager and had recently joined the party. Bardella rejects the allegations as fabricated and says he will take legal action; Marine Le Pen has also called the report a fake and accused the outlet of a dirty-tricks operation. The claims put renewed scrutiny on the RN’s effort to distance itself from its history of racism and antisemitism and present itself as a credible governing party ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election.