Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National (RN), said the party is virtually certain to secure the 500 endorsements required for the 2027 presidential election [1].
This confidence comes as the RN seeks to establish its viability for the next presidential cycle and maintain its momentum within the French political landscape. The ability to secure these endorsements is a critical legal hurdle for any candidate wishing to appear on the ballot.
Bardella addressed the party's readiness and his personal life in recent discussions. He said his relationship with Maria-Carolina de Bourbon is compatible with the values of the RN [2].
In a separate but related context of French political discourse, Robert Ménard, the mayor of Béziers, discussed his new book titled "Lettre à Clara" during an interview on Thursday, May 14, 2026 [3]. The book is addressed to his daughter and reveals the political disagreements between the father and child.
Ménard said the work serves as a way to explain his personal and political relationship with his daughter through writing [3]. His reflections on family tension amidst political divide mirror the broader social frictions currently facing France.
Regarding the 2027 race, Bardella remains focused on the party's institutional strength. He said, "Le RN est pratiquement certain de pouvoir décrocher les 500 parrainages" [1].
The RN continues to position itself as a primary challenger for the presidency, leveraging both the public profiles of its leaders and the party's organizational capacity to meet official requirements [1].
“"Le RN est pratiquement certain de pouvoir décrocher les 500 parrainages."”
The confidence expressed by Jordan Bardella suggests that the Rassemblement National has successfully built a network of local officials capable of providing the necessary signatures for a presidential bid. This removes a common barrier that has historically hindered far-right candidates in France. Simultaneously, the public discourse surrounding Robert Ménard's family disagreements highlights the deep ideological polarization continuing to affect French society across generational lines.
