French far right’s Le Pen asks protege to prep for 2027 presidential bid

Marine Le Pen, left, and Jordan Bardella, right, speak to the press [File: Thibaud Moritz/AFP]

France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, has openly suggested that her political heir apparent, Jordan Bardella, could take her place in the 2027 presidential election, as a court ruling threatens to derail her candidacy.

In an interview published on Wednesday by French magazine Valeurs Actuelles, the leader of the National Rally (RN) party said: “I accept that I cannot run. Jordan accepts that he must step in. I myself have asked him to think about it and prepare for this possibility.”