Le Pen's protégé Bardella poised for top French government role

The chairman of the French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN), Jordan Bardella, has quickly risen through the group's ranks. With support from Marine Le Pen, he has managed to divert attention from the controversial slogans and economic ideas of the populists. Now, he may become the Prime Minister of France.

CNBC reports that Bardella's rapid climb up the career ladder in the RN, backed by leader Marine Le Pen, has earned him the nickname "Le Pen’s lion cub."

After President Emmanuel Macron took the risky step of dissolving the National Assembly following unfavorable European Parliament elections for his party, a path opened up for Bardella, potentially leading him to the position of Prime Minister.

According to CNBC, if the populists gain the upper hand, it is Bardella, the energetic and eloquent 28-year-old from the poor suburbs of Paris, who would have the greatest chance of leading the new government.

In the French system, the Prime Minister would have significant impact on France's domestic and economic policy, while Macron, as President, would remain responsible for foreign policy and defense.

The problem, as commentators on the French political scene point out, is that although Bardella's magnetism attracts young voters and his presence appeals to women, he lacks specifics and proposals for solving pressing issues. Instead, promotion seems to take precedence over politics, CNBC writes.

Despite this, for Le Pen, who is increasingly anointed as the future President of France (with elections to be held in 2027), the "Bardella effect" brings tangible benefits. It warms the image of the far-right, diverting attention from controversial slogans and solutions.

Le Pen hopes to erase the pro-Putin connections of the party and herself or to remove the banners calling for France to leave NATO. Borell has loudly emphasized that France will continue to support sending weapons to Ukraine, but not deploying ground troops, as Macron suggested.

Quoted by CNBC, Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, assessed that Le Pen and Bardella are trying to reassure voters and markets that their policies will not be shock therapy.

They downplay Le Pen's earlier fiscal demands (reversing pension reform, large tax cuts for young and/or low-income citizens). Instead, Le Pen promises that an RN-led government will work with President Macron and maintain support for Ukraine - commented the chief economist of Berenberg Bank.

As CNBC writes, Bardella's charm does not wane even when the media uncovered some inconsistencies in the constructed image of his "humble origins." His father was actually a successful businessman living in the affluent suburbs of Montmorency. Jordan spent most of his childhood there after his parents’ divorce.

Bardella first attended a private school and later studied geography at the Sorbonne, but he left his studies for politics. He joined the National Assembly - then known as the National Front - at the age of 16.

CNBC recalls that Le Pen noticed him because he was dating the daughter of her close friend and confidant, Frederic Chatillon. Within a few weeks of meeting Le Pen in 2017, he became the party’s spokesperson. Two years later, he became a member of the European Parliament, and in 2022, he became the party’s chairman.

What are his chances of becoming Prime Minister? According to polls, RN has 35% support. Last week, however, Bardella said he would accept the position of Prime Minister only if RN obtained an absolute majority in the vote. As CNBC notes, the far-right party is reluctant to lead a fragile minority government.