‘People admire scars’: MEPs fear Le Pen more than Bardella
European Lawmakers Weigh In on France's Far-Right Leadership Contest
People admire scars - Marine Le Pen's decision to pursue the French presidency presents a significant challenge for political opponents across the spectrum. Following consultations with Euronews, multiple centrist and left-wing European Parliament members expressed concern that the seasoned French far-right figurehead possesses greater electoral appeal than Jordan Bardella. The younger MEP was widely anticipated to succeed Le Pen as the National Rally's presidential nominee had she been disqualified from competing.
Why Voters May Prefer the Veteran Over the Newcomer
Le Pen's announcement regarding her candidacy for France's 2027 presidential race—despite carrying a fraud conviction—has sparked considerable debate within French political circles. Meanwhile, Bardella has emerged as a potential contender for the prime ministerial position. Many observers have questioned whether transferring leadership entirely to the younger politician might have proven more advantageous. Nevertheless, Brussels-based legislators remain convinced that Le Pen holds superior prospects for victory, even though recent polling indicates Bardella could secure wider backing during the initial voting round.
"French voters are not looking for an adventure with a young candidate; they want to be reassured," MEP Sandro Gozi from the centrist Democratic Movement explained to Euronews. According to Gozi, Le Pen occupies a stronger position to address public anxieties regarding warfare, energy security, and diminishing purchasing power. Both politicians diverge significantly on two pivotal economic matters affecting French citizens: the proposal to reduce the statutory retirement age to 62 years and the special taxation levied on energy corporations' windfall profits. In each instance, Le Pen adopted the more widely accepted position.
Contrasting Political Styles and Backgrounds
Gozi observes that Le Pen has constructed her entire political trajectory around portraying herself as a champion of ordinary citizens against established elites, to such an extent that critics have characterized her platform as resembling Socialist policies. Conversely, Bardella seeks validation from France's upper echelons, and his efforts to win their approval risk distancing him from working-class constituents.
"Everything in him is very well studied to open the door of the big industry, even his love story with the princess," Gozi remarked, alluding to Bardella's romantic involvement with Maria Carolina di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, who is the offspring of a business banker and a descendant of the monarch who governed Southern Italy.
Le Pen's personal narrative—including three unsuccessful presidential campaigns and a legal struggle that almost barred her from the 2027 race—has reinforced her outsider credentials, fostering sympathy among everyday French citizens. The prevailing sentiment within Parliament suggests that a resolute Le Pen launching her fourth presidential campaign represents a more formidable adversary in the second-round contest compared to Bardella, who remains relatively unfamiliar to many voters.
Experience as a Decisive Factor
"She is more experienced and ready to stand presidential debates, while he would be very weak if you go beyond the talking points," stated Manon Aubry, who leads the left-wing France Unbowed delegation in the European Parliament.
An anonymous Renaissance Party MEP concurred that Le Pen constitutes the most difficult opponent to confront, particularly because she has refined her approach following earlier missteps, notably a harsh exchange with current president Emmanuel Macron during 2017.
Le Pen's accumulated experience proves equally vital for Socialist Brando Benifei, who dismisses the notion that Bardella might benefit from younger voters' support. "He has maybe more followers, she has more appeal in a generation that is more significant in demographic terms," Benifei told Euronews, asserting that young French residents with immigrant heritage would likely reject the far right irrespective of which leader represents them. "All things considered, Le Pen is a more solid candidate for National Rally, and therefore a bigger problem for us," he concluded.