Amidst the elegant setting of the Cercle Interallié in Paris, a gathering of business leaders was stirred from its post-dessert lull by a pointed question directed at Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National (RN). The query, posed during a luncheon organized by the nonprofit Ethic, cut to the heart of the speculation surrounding Bardella’s potential presidential ambitions: “How can you be a presidential candidate without really being a candidate, but still a little bit?”
The question, posed by an attendee who had paid €97 to attend the event on Monday, April 28, prompted a ripple of excitement in the room. However, Sophie de Menthon, the event’s organizer, swiftly intervened, deeming the question outside the scope of the economic focus of the luncheon. Her dismissal was met with approval from Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s lieutenant, who then resumed his presentation on pro-business policies.
The undercurrent of presidential speculation surrounding Bardella stems from the legal challenges facing Marine Le Pen. With an appeal trial pending in an embezzlement case that resulted in a lower court conviction and a five-year ban from holding office, Le Pen’s political future remains uncertain until the summer of 2026. This situation presents both challenges and opportunities for the RN, as they navigate public opinion and internal dynamics. Polls and interviews suggest a growing sentiment among RN activists in favor of Bardella, who is nearly 30 years old, as the potential face of the far right in the 2027 presidential election.
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