Jordan Bardella, the leader of the National Rally (RN), finds himself at the top of the polls but also facing a number of obstacles. These obstacles include low voter turnout, the dispersion of votes, and a perceived obsession by President Emmanuel Macron with the far right. Bardella’s speech on May 1st in Perpignan focused on these challenges to the far right’s path to power, with his sights set on the 2027 presidential election rather than the upcoming European Parliament elections. Bardella is keenly aware of the media scrutiny on his party, which is currently under investigation for legal issues.
With the European elections approaching, Bardella has shifted his focus away from discussing the European Union. While he initially spoke about a vision of a “Europe of Nations” in contrast to the current EU model, he is now more concerned with mobilizing his supporters for the upcoming elections. Bardella sees the European elections as a crucial stepping stone towards the next presidential election and has emphasized the importance of participation in the upcoming vote. According to polling data, the RN is currently polling at 32%, but Bardella is wary of voter apathy and has warned that not voting would essentially be supporting Macron.
During his speech in Perpignan, Bardella extended olive branches to various political factions, including supporters of Eric Zemmour’s Reconquête! party, right-wing voters, and former left-leaning individuals disillusioned with the left’s direction. Bardella portrayed Jean-Luc Mélenchon as an “engineer of chaos”, drawing on a book by Giuliano da Empoli to highlight the various actors who have capitalized on voter anger to push for far-right leaders in other countries. Bardella’s strategy seems to be aimed at uniting a broad base of supporters under the banner of the RN.
Bardella’s speech reflects his strategy of appealing to a wide range of voters by emphasizing shared concerns such as immigration, work, meritocracy, and national identity. By positioning the RN as the party that can address these issues, Bardella hopes to attract voters from across the political spectrum. Despite the controversies and legal challenges facing the RN, Bardella remains focused on the ultimate goal of winning a majority in the upcoming elections and positioning the party for success in the 2027 presidential race.
In summary, Jordan Bardella’s speech in Perpignan highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing the National Rally as they approach the European elections. Bardella’s focus on mobilizing supporters and reaching out to various voter groups reflects his strategic approach to building a broad base of support. Despite the obstacles facing the far right, Bardella remains determined to overcome them and position the RN as a viable alternative to the current political establishment.
