Marine Le Pen Reasserts Control Over National Rally Party
Marine Le Pen marginalized Jordan Bardella's pro-business agenda to prioritize populist goals as she prepares for the French presidential campaign.
National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has reasserted control over the party's direction as she prepares for the French presidential campaign. This shift follows a July court ruling that cleared her to run for office, ending a period where she had to manage the aftermath of an embezzlement conviction.
Le Pen has marginalized the pro-business agenda of her protege, Jordan Bardella, in favor of her own populist goals. This internal power shift was formalized in an economic blueprint announced Tuesday, which prioritizes Le Pen's policy preferences over those of Bardella.
The tension between the two leaders emerges after a period of suppressed conflict. While Le Pen was legally constrained, policy and style differences between the two were kept internal, but the new economic platform signals a return to Le Pen's primary leadership.
