Mediapart report alleges Bardella antisemitic messages; RN leader denies, plans lawsuit
On September 28, 2026, investigative outlet Mediapart published a report alleging that Jordan Bardella, president of France's National Rally (RN), made antisemitic and conspiratorial remarks in private conversations from 2013-2015. Bardella denies the allegations, calling them "crude forgeries," and has announced a defamation lawsuit. Marine Le Pen dismissed the report as "insanity." CRIF president Yonathan Arfi said the allegations illustrate the limits of the RN's "de-demonization" strategy. Opposition figures have called for Bardella's resignation.
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Mediapart Investigation on Jordan Bardella: RN Denies Antisemitic Remarks as Resignation Calls Grow
An investigation by Mediapart, published on September 28, 2026, attributes antisemitic messages from 2013 to Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National (RN), when he was a young FN militant. The RN and its allies have categorically denied the accusations. Bardella announced a defamation lawsuit and denounced an attempt to destabilize his campaign, with Marine Le Pen calling it a 'barbouzerie' (dirty trick). Vice-president of the National Assembly Sébastien Chenu dismissed the claims as false, and UDR deputy Charles Alloncle called them 'grotesque and delusional,' asserting Bardella is a 'great friend of Israel.' RN deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy accused 'antisemitic scum' purged from the party in 2011 of leaking the messages, though he provided no proof, only an 'intimate conviction.' In contrast, opposition figures have called for Bardella's resignation. LR mayor Jean-François Copé stated the alleged remarks are of extreme gravity and that 'the masks must fall' if Mediapart proves them. LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard said Bardella can no longer play a major role in French politics. Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin argued the RN carries a legacy of xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism.
Read sourceFrench far-right leader Jordan Bardella denies antisemitic text message allegations
Jordan Bardella, the 31-year-old leader of France's far-right Rassemblement National (RN), has formally denied allegations published by the investigative online portal Mediapart that he wrote antisemitic text messages between 2013 and 2015, when he was a minor. Mediapart claims the messages, which it says were independently authenticated, show a 'compulsive antisemitism' including statements such as 'All banks are owned by Jews' and references to Jewish control of power and a new world order. Bardella called the accusations 'blatant forgeries' on X and said he has instructed his lawyer to take legal action against the outlet. He accused Mediapart, which he described as left-wing activist media, of using intelligence methods to attack his honor and disrupt his presidential campaign. Marine Le Pen, the RN's former leader and current presidential frontrunner, defended Bardella, calling the allegations 'insanity' and predicting a defamation lawsuit. The controversy comes seven months before the French presidential election, in which Le Pen is leading polls. She has indicated she would appoint Bardella as prime minister if she wins and a parliamentary election follows.
Read sourceCRIF Denounces Limits of RN's Normalization After Antisemitic Remarks Attributed to Bardella
On September 28, 2026, Le Monde reported that Mediapart published alleged antisemitic and conspiratorial comments from private conversations attributed to Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National (RN), dating back to 2013. The CRIF (Conseil représentatif des institutions juives de France) president, Yonathan Arfi, denounced the remarks as an illustration of the limits of the RN's 'de-demonization' strategy, stating that the party's DNA as a refuge for identitarians and conspiracy theorists has not fundamentally changed. Marine Tondelier, the Ecologists' presidential candidate, called for Bardella's resignation, accusing him of being an 'obsessive antisemite' despite his normalization strategy. Mediapart claims to have authenticated dozens of written conversations, in which Bardella allegedly wrote that 'the Jew must dominate other peoples, crush them and steal from them,' that 'all banks are owned by Jews,' and that key ministries are held by people who prioritize Israel and banking interests over French interests. Bardella denied the allegations, calling them 'gross fakes' and a 'dirty tricks operation,' a stance echoed by RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.
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Marine Le Pen dismisses Mediapart report on Jordan Bardella's alleged antisemitic remarks as 'nonsense'
On September 28, 2026, at the Batimat trade fair in Paris, Marine Le Pen, leader of the Republicans and candidate for the 2027 presidential election, was questioned by a Mediapart journalist about the investigative outlet's recent report. The report, based on months of investigation, alleges that Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right party, made antisemitic and conspiratorial remarks in private written conversations. Le Pen responded by saying she did not know what the journalist was talking about and dismissed the revelations as 'dinguerie' (nonsense). Bardella has denied the existence of such messages, calling them 'gross fakes'. The article includes a video from Le Monde's service and references a related article on the same topic.
Read sourceMediapart reports antisemitic remarks by Jordan Bardella, who denounces 'crude fakes'
On September 28, 2026, investigative outlet Mediapart published a report alleging that Jordan Bardella, president of France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, repeatedly made antisemitic and conspiratorial remarks in private conversations dating back to 2013, two years before his first election. The report claims Bardella exhibited 'exacerbated and compulsive antisemitism' during his early years in the party. Bardella has formally denied the allegations, calling them 'crude fakes' and denouncing a 'dirty tricks operation.' Marine Le Pen, the party's former leader, also dismissed the report as 'crazy' and a 'manipulation.' The RN has previously positioned itself as a 'shield for the Jews.' The full article is behind a paywall on Le Monde's website.