French hard-right leader accuses opponents of 'total war' after claims of antisemitism
Jordan Bardella, president of France's National Rally, is suing the website Mediapart for libel following allegations that he made antisemitic comments as a teenager. Bardella and Marine Le Pen have dismissed the report as a politically motivated attempt to destabilize their party ahead of the presidential election.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the intense political polarization in France and the role of investigative media in vetting candidates for high office.
Image source, Anadolu via Getty Images Image caption, Jordan Bardella, 31, would probably be prime minister if Marine Le Pen wins next year's presidential election
The president of France's hard-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, has said he will sue for libel after a report published antisemitic comments that it alleged he had made as a young activist.
The Mediapart website released what it said was the result of "several months" of investigation into "dozens of written conversations" Bardella allegedly had in 2013.
With seven months to go before France's presidential elections, Bardella condemned "the beginnings of a total war" aimed at destabilising his party, and RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said she had total confidence in him.
The alleged remarks included blatantly antisemitic tropes, and Bardella said they were an attempt to destroy his political career.
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