Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National (RN), said he does not intend to be a supporting actor to Marine Le Pen.
The tension within the party leadership comes as Le Pen, the RN president and 2027 presidential candidate, formalizes her bid for the French presidency [1]. The dynamic between the two leaders is critical for the party's internal stability and its strategy heading into the next election cycle.
Bardella said he desires to maintain political autonomy and establish his own objectives for the coming year [1]. While some reports describe the relationship as a strategic duo, other accounts suggest Bardella is dissatisfied with his role as a secondary figure [2, 3].
In an interview on July 12, 2026, Bardella spoke about the impact of Le Pen's candidacy [2]. He said, "J'ai l'impression d'assister à mon propre enterrement…" — I feel like I am attending my own funeral [2].
Reports from the Rassemblement National headquarters in Paris said Bardella's attitude was strange following the official announcement [4]. This behavior aligns with claims that he seeks to avoid being perceived as a simple support system for Le Pen [1, 3].
Despite these internal frictions, some media outlets continue to present the pair as a unified front [2]. This contradiction highlights a divide between the party's public image of a strategic alliance, and the private frustrations of its leadership.
The French presidential election is scheduled for 2027 [1]. As the party prepares for the campaign, the balance of power between the established Le Pen and the rising Bardella remains a point of contention.
“"J'ai l'impression d'assister à mon propre enterrement…"”
The friction between Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen suggests a generational and strategic struggle within the Rassemblement National. While Le Pen remains the figurehead for the 2027 election, Bardella's public push for autonomy indicates he is positioning himself as a distinct political force rather than a subordinate. If the party cannot reconcile these ambitions, the perceived instability could affect voter confidence in the RN's ability to govern.
