How Jordan Bardella became France’s far-right poster boy

Lara BULLENS

21 June 2024 at 2:47 am·1-min read

With a charismatic blend of youthful vigour and strategic communication, far-right leader Jordan Bardella has captivated millions on social media, a sign of the "Bardella mania" that has swept through France’s younger demographic. At just 28, Bardella's ascent to the top of the National Rally party formerly led by Marine Le Pen and Macron's call for snap legislative elections may well pave the road to the prime minister's office.

With a distant glance to the horizon, his perfectly combed hair backlit by soft sunlight and his uniform of crisp white button-up shirt, far-right leader Jordan Bardella’s profile picture on social media has seduced millions of followers.

“He is not only handsome, but he is intelligent too!” reads a comment underneath a June 19 TikTok post. “Mr. Bardella, I’m 17 years old and you give me hope that you can change things for our country. I used to be more of a leftist and I think I want to put my trust in you,” reads another.

With Bardella as its poster boy, the French far-right National Rally (RN) party knocked President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance out of the woods with double as many votes during the June 9 European elections. The monumental loss prompted Macron to take a shock decision and call snap parliamentary elections, the final vote for which will take place on July 7.

The Daily Beast
Obama Rode to Biden’s Rescue—but Intervention Could Yet Come
On Friday afternoon, in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate against Donald Trump, private murmurs and public calls for an “intervention” ricocheted through Democratic circles. But then a hold-up emerged.Some 17 hours after Biden botched his big debate moment, his former boss came to the rescue.For many high-ranking Democrats, a single tweet from former President Barack Obama appeared to nix any chance of the 44th president meeting with the 46th and urging him to drop out.Rea
INSIDER
Kamala Harris' camp is mad that Newsom and Whitmer are being floated as Biden replacements over the VP
Harris is seen by many as a natural potential successor to Biden. But an array of Democrats believe her middling approval ratings are a liability.
INSIDER
Biden meets family at Camp David as calls to exit the race grow
The meeting was pre-planned but is a timely opportunity for Biden to discuss the future of his campaign with the most influential people in his life.
Associated Press
An Indian military tank sinks while crossing a river in a region bordering China, killing 5 soldiers
Five Indian soldiers were killed when a military tank they were travelling in sank while crossing a river in the remote region of Ladakh that borders China, officials said Saturday. The tank sank early Saturday due to sudden increase in the water levels of Shyok River during a military training activity, according to an Indian army command center statement. It said the accident took place in Saser Brangsa near the Line of Actual Control that divides India and China in the Ladakh region.
INSIDER
Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine.
Ukraine has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot air defense systems.
CNN
The reason why NATO and Europe found Biden’s debate performance so alarming
Joe Biden’s performance at the CNN presidential debate against Donald Trump has raised concerns with US allies - particularly within NATO and Europe.
The Telegraph
‘Trillion dollar trainwreck’: US super stealth fighter is eating the next generation
All of a sudden, the US Air Force is considering cancelling a multibillion-dollar effort to develop a new stealth fighter. Citing the high cost of the so-called “Next-Generation Air Dominance” programme and the competing demands of other projects, USAF leaders have warned they may have no choice but to cancel NGAD – and find other ways of winning control of the air in future wars.
The Telegraph
Joe Biden ‘gets tired after 4pm’
Joe Biden gets tired after 4pm, according to aides, which might explain his dismal performance on Thursday’s 9pm debate.
CNN
A year ago, she drank battery acid to escape life under the Taliban. Today, she has a message for other Afghan girls
Arzo survived a suicide attempt but now faces a new threat that could send her family – and millions like them – back to Afghanistan and a life that has become so intolerable for women and girls that some would rather die.
HuffPost
Critics Clown Trump's 'IDIOTIC' Electric Planes Remarks: 'Dumb As A Box Of Rocks'
"What happens if the sun isn’t shining while you’re up in the air?” the former president asked at a rally in Virginia.
CNN Business
One of the world’s richest men wants to transform India’s biggest slum
When Masoom Ali Shaikh arrived in Mumbai in 1974 as a young man from northern India, the patch of land where he set up shop was “just a creek with no proper road and garbage all around,” he said.
The Independent
‘Panicking’ Rishi Sunak in final weekend of campaigning to save his own seat
Rishi Sunak‘s team asked for a hustings to be arranged in his own constituency which was later cancelled as he tries to make sure he saves his own seat
South China Morning Post
Berlin's shift on China policy is result of Beijing's changed behaviour, German envoy says
Beijing's changing behaviour towards Europe has compelled Berlin to re-evaluate its China policy, a top German diplomat said on Friday. Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Thomas Bagger, state secretary at the German foreign ministry, declared that Germany's stance towards Beijing has moved to a heightened rivalry, a response to Beijing's actions rather than pressure from Washington. "It's quite clear that the emphasis has shifted from a focus on partnership and cooperation to more c
The Hill
Barrett breaks with conservatives over Jan. 6 obstruction charge ruling
In a pointed dissent, Justice Amy Coney Barrett skewered her fellow justices over their decision to narrow an obstruction charge used to prosecute scores of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The Supreme Court voted 6-3 on Friday to side with Joseph Fischer, a former police officer accused of partaking in the…
The Hill
Bernie Sanders on Biden’s performance: ‘Not terribly articulate to say the least’
In his first public comments since President Biden took to the debate stage last night, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the president failed to clearly articulate his achievements or vision for the future. “I have to also be very honest with you and tell you that I think the president was not terribly articulate to…
INSIDER
Hezbollah has the weapons to carry out its threat against Cyprus
Hezbollah may be using Cyprus as a "stand-in" to threaten a nearby NATO country, a regional expert said.
INSIDER
Huge US military 'Manta Ray' sea drone spotted on Google Earth at California naval base
Sea drones have redefined naval warfare in recent years. Their use in the Russia-Ukraine war has gained them widespread media attention.
PA Media: UK News
Sunak praises ‘incredible strength’ of his wife and daughters during campaign
Rishi Sunak has also reiterated his criticism of the racial slur used against him by a Reform UK canvasser.
The Daily Beast
Why I Told Biden to Quit, by New Yorker’s David Remnick: ‘Breakthrough Moment’
When The New Yorker’s editor David Remnick watched Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, it was the culmination of long-held doubts. On Saturday, he published a column headlined “The Reckoning of Joe Biden,” calling for the president to end a re-election campaign that Remnick called “a national endangerment.”Remnick told the Daily Beast, “It’s just become more and more evident, and the debate was just the kind of breakthrough moment.”The column is the latest salvo from
INSIDER
France's army chief says small drones will lose their battlefield advantage. But Ukraine likely won't be changing tack anytime soon.
French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill said small drones could soon lose their battlefield advantage as defenses were catching up.

Latest stories