A few months before the presidential election, the Bardella affair and the virulent response of the RN against Mediapart are weakening the image of normalization cultivated by the far-right party, and rekindling concerns about its relationship with the press.

Published on: 02/10/2026 - 2:34 p.m. Modified on: 02/10/2026 - 3:38 p.m.

A few months before the presidential election, revelations from Mediapart undermine the “de-demonization” strategy initiated several years ago by the National Rally (RN).

The investigative media revealed, Monday, September 28, a series of anti-Semitic remarks attributed to the president of the far-right party, Jordan Bardella, when he was a young activist of the National Front (FN) – ex-RN – in 2013.

Supported by his party, the latter denies, denouncing "a nonsense".

With a lot of dubious remarks, Marine Le Pen, RN presidential candidate, adds controversy to the controversy, advising Mediapart to put on its “Kevlar suit” – a material used for bulletproof vests.

An outing immediately condemned by Mediapart, Reporters without Borders, and part of the French political class, who deplore the "linguistic violence of the RN", and "the verbal attacks and physical threats of Marine Le Pen".

Cartooning for Peace is an international network of cartoonists committed to promoting, through the universality of press cartoons, freedom of expression, human rights and mutual respect between populations of different cultures or beliefs.

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