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Jordan Bardella Faces Antisemitism Allegations Ahead of France’s 2027 Presidential Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged 2013 Antisemitic Messages Published by Mediapart
Mediapart released screenshots of private Facebook Messenger chats from the summer of 2013-2014, attributing antisemitic remarks to Jordan Bardella, then 17, then a National Front member. The messages include: “The Jew has to dominate other peoples, crush them, and rob them; a Zionist is necessarily a Jew, and fundamentally so.” Mediapart says the material was authenticated through Meta data and a court bailiff’s certification.
Political Context and the RN’s “De-Demonisation” Strategy
Marine Le Pen, leading opinion polls for the 2027 race, has sought to rebrand the RN away from its historic antisemitic reputation. Bardella, the party’s deputy and a potential prime minister in a Le Pen government, has been central to that effort, including a 2025 visit to Israel. The allegations surface seven months before the presidential election.
Timeline of Key Developments
- 2013-2014 – Alleged chats written by Bardella.
- Sept 28 – Mediapart publishes the material.
- Sept 29 – Bardella tells RN lawmakers the documents would prompt forgery complaints if they existed.
- Oct 1, 2026 – Editorials note political impact.
- Apr 18 – First round of the 2027 presidential election (scheduled).
Data & Statistics
- Bardella is 31; he was 17-18 when the alleged messages were written.
- A Toluna-Harris survey for RTL and M6 showed Le Pen would obtain roughly 35-36 % in the first round.
- The RN recently secured enough Senate seats to form its first parliamentary faction.
Official Statements & Responses
Mediapart asserts the conversations were authenticated by matching the Meta-registered user name “Jordan Bardella” and forensic dating.
Bardella denies authorship, calling the evidence “crude forgeries” and announcing a defamation lawsuit, describing the release as an attempt to “destabilise the presidential campaign.”
Le Pen expressed “absolute confidence” in Bardella and condemned the investigation as a “dirty trick.”
President Emmanuel Macron called the alleged remarks “extremely serious and unacceptable” and urged clarification.
Anti-discrimination minister Aurore Bergé labeled the content “extremely serious” and warned it recalls the far-right’s true nature.
Criticism & Opposition
Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), called the comments “virulently antisemitic” and said they undermine the RN’s image detox.
Raphaël Glucksmann, Socialist presidential primary candidate, argued no PR effort can erase the party’s antisemitic origins.
Marine Tondelier, leader of the Green party, urged Bardella to resign, describing him as an “obsessional antisemite.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Mediapart maintains independent authentication via Meta data and a bailiff’s certification. Bardella’s camp claims the screenshots are “obviously manipulated” and that the source is unclear, noting two insiders provided the documents. No judicial ruling on authenticity has been issued.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Extracting the conversation makes it possible to date it, to certify that this conversation was not altered after the fact, and to confirm that the person on the other end is listed by Meta/Facebook under the name Jordan Bardella,” — Mediapart
- “We are seeing the beginnings of a total war, an attempt to destabilise the presidential campaign,” — Jordan Bardella
What’s Next
Bardella’s defamation suit is pending, and the RN faces intensified scrutiny as the April 18 first-round election approaches. The legal outcome could affect the party’s standing and Le Pen’s bid for the presidency.