Le Pen and Bardella Gather European Partners Amid Protests in France
A meeting marking the Rassemblement National's recent electoral success coincides with significant opposition demonstrations.
Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, leaders of France's Rassemblement National (RN), gathered in Mormant-sur-Vernisson in the Loiret on Monday to celebrate their party's success in the recent European elections.
This event, titled ‘La fête de la victoire’, commemorated the RN’s first-place finish in the European elections held on June 9, 2024, where the party secured 31.37% of the votes, marking its best result in party history for an initial electoral round.
The gathering is expected to attract over 5,000 attendees who will participate in various festivities including local food vendors and entertainment.
Concurrently, a counter-demonstration was organized in Montargis, approximately ten kilometers away, drawing thousands of participants, with organizers claiming a turnout of about 4,000.
This protest featured various political figures, including parliamentarians from the Socialist Party (PS), the French Communist Party (PCF), and La France Insoumise (LFI), as well as several union leaders.
Le Pen and Bardella's event is notable for the attendance of prominent European right-wing figures, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, and leaders from the Spanish party Vox, along with other allies from across Europe.
Orbán criticized what he termed the control exerted by Brussels' bureaucrats and linked Montargis to broader issues of governmental control and urban violence.
The gathering emphasizes the coalition under the banner of 'Patriotes pour l’Europe', which includes 85 Members of the European Parliament amid competition from other right-wing factions.
In addition to commemorating electoral success, the event aims to consolidate support for the RN in the French political landscape, particularly in light of the upcoming presidential election in 2026. Le Pen and Bardella's appearances are positioned to strengthen their united front, particularly given recent challenges the party has faced.
Last year, the RN aimed to make significant inroads in legislative elections, but the outcomes revealed challenges with candidate selections and an effective Republican front.
The RN managed to secure 120 seats, substantially short of the 289 required to dominate the National Assembly.
The anniversary of the successful European election coincides with a pending legal decision regarding Le Pen’s eligibility for future elections due to a recent court ruling against her.
Jordan Bardella has emerged as a potential presidential candidate, especially given speculation surrounding Le Pen's future viability.
The dynamics within the party are tense, as recent commentary from right-wing media suggests a preference for Bardella over Le Pen.
This context adds pressure to the Monday gathering as a demonstration of internal unity and a statement of intent heading into future electoral contests.
This event, titled ‘La fête de la victoire’, commemorated the RN’s first-place finish in the European elections held on June 9, 2024, where the party secured 31.37% of the votes, marking its best result in party history for an initial electoral round.
The gathering is expected to attract over 5,000 attendees who will participate in various festivities including local food vendors and entertainment.
Concurrently, a counter-demonstration was organized in Montargis, approximately ten kilometers away, drawing thousands of participants, with organizers claiming a turnout of about 4,000.
This protest featured various political figures, including parliamentarians from the Socialist Party (PS), the French Communist Party (PCF), and La France Insoumise (LFI), as well as several union leaders.
Le Pen and Bardella's event is notable for the attendance of prominent European right-wing figures, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, and leaders from the Spanish party Vox, along with other allies from across Europe.
Orbán criticized what he termed the control exerted by Brussels' bureaucrats and linked Montargis to broader issues of governmental control and urban violence.
The gathering emphasizes the coalition under the banner of 'Patriotes pour l’Europe', which includes 85 Members of the European Parliament amid competition from other right-wing factions.
In addition to commemorating electoral success, the event aims to consolidate support for the RN in the French political landscape, particularly in light of the upcoming presidential election in 2026. Le Pen and Bardella's appearances are positioned to strengthen their united front, particularly given recent challenges the party has faced.
Last year, the RN aimed to make significant inroads in legislative elections, but the outcomes revealed challenges with candidate selections and an effective Republican front.
The RN managed to secure 120 seats, substantially short of the 289 required to dominate the National Assembly.
The anniversary of the successful European election coincides with a pending legal decision regarding Le Pen’s eligibility for future elections due to a recent court ruling against her.
Jordan Bardella has emerged as a potential presidential candidate, especially given speculation surrounding Le Pen's future viability.
The dynamics within the party are tense, as recent commentary from right-wing media suggests a preference for Bardella over Le Pen.
This context adds pressure to the Monday gathering as a demonstration of internal unity and a statement of intent heading into future electoral contests.