Jordan Bardella is positioning the National Rally (RN) as the leading contender for the 2027 French presidential election [1].
The movement's trajectory is critical because it seeks to fundamentally reorient the European Union and capitalize on a shift in how young voters consume political information.
Bardella has pledged to win the polls in 2027 [1]. He specifically aims to change the relationship between member states and the central bureaucracy of the EU. "I would like to put the Commission and the EU back at the service of the nations and no longer the other way around," Bardella said [2].
This political push comes amid legal uncertainty for former party figurehead Marine Le Pen. A French court convicted Le Pen in an embezzlement trial on March 31, 2025 [3]. While some reports indicate the court banned her from running for office [3], the National Rally is awaiting an appeal verdict scheduled for July 7 [1].
To secure the 2027 victory, the RN is leveraging new communication strategies. The party is targeting voters under 25, a demographic where more than half cite social media, and video platforms as their primary source of information [4]. This shift toward content creators allows the party to bypass traditional media filters to reach younger citizens.
While some analysts describe France as being in turmoil, the RN continues to poll well above other candidates [1, 5]. The party is betting that perceived EU overreach and the influence of digital media will provide the necessary momentum to capture the presidency [2, 4].
“"I would like to put the Commission and the EU back at the service of the nations and no longer the other way around."”
The rise of Jordan Bardella represents a generational shift within the National Rally, moving from Marine Le Pen's leadership to a digitally native approach. By targeting the under-25 demographic and challenging the EU's structural authority, the RN is attempting to normalize far-right governance as a viable alternative to the current French administration, regardless of Le Pen's personal legal eligibility.
