The rising star of Marine Le Pen’s far-right party is taking his presidential ambitions to the corners of France that feel left behind.
As 26-year-old Jordan Bardella arrived in Oleron, an island off the west coast, on the morning of June 2, he shook hands, gave media interviews and talked with fishermen about their most pressing concerns — European quotas on their hauls and the rising price of fuel.
Officially, the visit was about promoting a local candidate for parliamentary elections that start on June 12. In reality, it was part of a campaign to raise his profile as head of the National Rally. And at the port at least, it appeared to be working.
