French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is placing her political alliance with National Rally president Jordan Bardella at the centre of her campaign strategy as she prepares for the 2027 presidential election.
Le Pen and the 30-year-old Bardella have appeared side by side throughout the early stages of the campaign, signalling a coordinated effort to expand the National Rally’s appeal beyond its traditional voter base. Party officials believe Bardella’s popularity among younger voters, polished communication style and outreach to the business community can complement Le Pen’s campaign after three unsuccessful bids for the French presidency.
The strategy became more visible after an appeals court upheld Le Pen’s conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds earlier this week. While the ruling sentenced her to one year of house arrest, it also reduced her electoral ban, allowing her to remain eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Following the court decision, Le Pen formally announced her candidacy and confirmed she would appeal the verdict, a move that suspends the implementation of her sentence until France’s highest court rules on the case.
The pair have since campaigned together, including a visit to the western French town of La Flèche, where they met voters, posed for photographs and promoted what Le Pen described as a “winning ticket.” Under the proposed arrangement, Le Pen would seek the presidency while Bardella would be positioned as a potential prime minister if the National Rally forms a government.
Although French presidential elections traditionally focus on individual candidates rather than joint tickets, National Rally officials argue that presenting a clear governing partnership offers voters greater certainty about how the party would lead the country.
Political observers say the approach reflects Le Pen’s effort to broaden support ahead of the election while reinforcing party unity. However, critics note that France’s political system does not formally recognize presidential running mates, making the strategy an unconventional departure from past campaigns.
