Accused by Mediapart of anti-Semitic remarks, Bardella denounces a « total war » against the National Rally
A Mediapart investigation published on September 28, 2026, attributes old antisemitic messages to Jordan Bardella. The president of the National Rally denies being the author; the following day, according to France 24, he denounced the « beginnings of total war » against his party. The political stakes are real, but three things must be distinguished: the publication of the accusations, the contested authenticity of the writings, and their potential electoral effects.
What is established, and what is disputed
On September 28, Mediapart published an investigation into writings it attributes to Jordan Bardella, dating from his early years of involvement with the National Front. The newspaper notably highlights a statement about the supposed ownership of banks by Jews: this is an antisemitic cliché, not a description of the economy. The established fact here is the publication of the investigation , not the definitively proven authenticity of each message.
Jordan Bardella rejects the statements attributed to him, calling them « blatant forgeries, » and announces legal action against Mediapart. His denial must be reported as clearly as the accusations. However, it is not sufficient, on its own, to establish that the documents are false—nor does their publication preclude examining their origin and attribution. This is the precise point of disagreement.
Why the case is beyond its president
The issue touches on the image the National Rally has been building for years: that of a party that has broken with the antisemitic rhetoric associated with its history. If the writings were authenticated, the political difficulty for this strategy would be particularly significant. If their attribution were refuted, the judgment on Bardella would have to take this into account. In either case, replacing verification with a battle of words— »revelations » on one side, « total war » on the other—resolves nothing.
Nor is this a matter concerning a minor figure in the party. The European Parliament presents Jordan Bardella as a Member of the European Parliament for the National Rally and president of the Patriots for Europe group. His institutional position explains why accusations targeting his own writings have a different significance than those concerning an unknown activist. This falls under the category of political analysis; it is not further evidence regarding the disputed messages.
Context is not a substitute for individual judgment
The underlying issue cannot be dismissed as a mere campaign squabble. In its report on the year 2025, published in June 2026, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights indicates that 35% of respondents still subscribe to the prejudice that Jews have a special relationship with money. This result reveals the persistence of a stereotype in an opinion poll; it says nothing, in itself, about the author of the writings published by Mediapart.
What we can actually conclude
As of September 29, 2026, both Mediapart’s investigation and Bardella’s denial are public. Their contradiction is a fact; the outcome of this controversy is not. The France 24 video also mentions Marine Le Pen as the favorite in the polls, without providing any identifiable survey data, fieldwork dates, or numerical results: it is impossible, on this basis alone, to determine the balance of power or the impact of the affair on voting intentions.
The crucial question, therefore, remains that of the evidence to attribute—or not—these writings to Jordan Bardella. As for the election, it has not yet taken place: no outrage, no denial, and no poll can substitute for a result.
Main source: French politics: news, videos, reports and analysis – France 24 (www.france24.com)
Original article: See the original source
Author: FRANCE24
Additional sources
- Mediapart, announcement of the investigation of September 28, 2026: publication of the newspaper .
- National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, report on the year 2025: presentation and report .
- European Parliament, Jordan Bardella profile .
