Le Pen’s Fourth Presidential Bid Alarms EU as Far-Right National Rally Threatens Progress
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Marine Le Pen’s decision to run for president again has reignited fears among EU officials and progressives, who see her National Rally party as a threat to social rights, democracy, and European unity. The possibility of a far-right government, whether led by Le Pen or the younger Jordan Bardella, raises concerns over regressive policies and the erosion of hard-won protections for citizens.
Marine Le Pen, a figurehead of the far-right, announced on live television that she will again be the National Rally’s candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, undeterred by a recent court-imposed year of house arrest. Her decision quashed hopes that the party might pivot to a more moderate stance under the younger, less radical Jordan Bardella, the party’s 30-year-old leader.
EU officials have sounded the alarm that a Le Pen or Bardella presidency would spell disaster for the bloc’s budget negotiations and collective defense, threatening the very fabric of European cooperation. Iratxe García, leader of the Socialists and Democrats group, emphasized the urgent need to resist “the threat of the extreme right, the attack on European citizens’ rights and the policies that benefit these citizens,” regardless of who fronts the National Rally. Dirk Gotink of the Dutch European People’s Party echoed these concerns, pointing out the party’s lack of a credible economic program and its dangerous populist rhetoric.
While some Brussels insiders grudgingly admit that Bardella appears less openly ideological than Le Pen, Croatian EPP vice-chair Željana Zovko noted that he is only marginally more moderate, as he does not currently advocate for a French exit from the EU or the euro. However, Latvian Renew Europe MEP Ivars Ījabs warned that Bardella’s history of skepticism toward NATO could undermine the alliance and destabilize the region.
Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group think-tank acknowledged that Bardella might be the preferred option for some, but stressed that he would still represent a dramatic break from France’s tradition of European solidarity. Bardella’s willingness to engage with business elites and conservative leaders on issues like migration and deregulation signals a dangerous shift toward policies that favor the wealthy and erode protections for workers and vulnerable populations. Rahman also highlighted Bardella’s inexperience, which could further jeopardize stability.
Despite these grave warnings, some on the far right, such as Patryk Jaki of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, openly welcomed the prospect of working with Le Pen or Bardella, revealing the growing influence of reactionary forces in Europe. The fight for the soul of Europe continues as progressives and democrats brace for a renewed assault on rights and freedoms.