Bardella wins 99 percent backing as National Rally consolidates ahead of French presidential race

Marine Le Pen to address thousands on Sunday with expected campaign speech

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Jordan Bardella has been re-elected leader of France's National Rally with nearly 99 percent of the vote, as the party gathers in Orléans for a two-day congress aimed at presenting a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Marine Le Pen is due to lay out her vision for France on Sunday in what her entourage describes as a 'high-calibre' speech centred on the theme of 'rebirth'.

Jordan Bardella won 98.98 percent of the vote in an uncontested leadership election, securing 75,497 votes against 779 blank ballots, according to RN lawmaker Yoann Gillet, who oversaw the vote. Turnout among party members reached nearly 68 percent, with electronic voting taking place from 21 September to 22 October. The result was announced on the opening day of the party's two-day congress in Orléans.

Ahead of the official announcement, Bardella thanked party activists and urged them to rally behind Marine Le Pen's presidential ambitions. "Once again, I am going to need you to lead Marine Le Pen to the Élysée," he told supporters. His re-election reinforces the division of roles between the RN's two leading figures, who have presented themselves as a "winning ticket" for the 2027 elections. Under that strategy, Le Pen is expected to seek the presidency, while Bardella is positioning himself as a potential prime minister should the party secure a parliamentary majority.

The congress was accompanied by a large counter-demonstration, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets of Orléans on Saturday to voice their opposition to the RN. Authorities estimated the turnout at around 11,000, while organisers put the figure at 26,000. The march began around midday and remained peaceful. Several prominent left-wing politicians and trade union leaders joined the protest, including Bally Bagayoko, mayor of Saint-Denis and a leading figure in La France insoumise. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure accused the RN of contributing to what he described as a "poisonous, racist and xenophobic climate". CGT trade union leader Sophie Binet also criticised the party, declaring that "there is no worse enemy of working men and women than the far right".

Beyond Bardella's re-election, the Orléans congress is intended to showcase the RN's unity and political programme, six months before the presidential election. Le Pen is due to address thousands of supporters on Sunday. According to her entourage, the address will be a "high-calibre" speech centred on the theme of "rebirth". The party has already begun presenting its economic and social priorities: earlier this month, the RN unveiled its alternative budget challenging the government's fiscal proposals, and Le Pen placed housing and the cost of living at the centre of her political agenda during a speech in Hénin-Beaumont on 14 September.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The National Rally's consolidation under Bardella and Le Pen sets the stage for the 2027 presidential election, where Le Pen is seen as a leading contender.
The large protest in Orléans reflects deep social and political divisions in France, with the far-right gaining ground but facing strong opposition.
The party's focus on economic issues such as housing and the cost of living signals an attempt to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base.

Background

The National Rally, formerly known as the National Front, has undergone a rebranding in recent years under Marine Le Pen's leadership, aiming to shed its extremist image. Jordan Bardella, a close ally of Le Pen, took over the party presidency in 2022. The party has steadily increased its electoral support, winning a record number of seats in the 2024 parliamentary elections. The 2027 presidential race is widely expected to be a rematch of the 2022 runoff between Le Pen and incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, who is ineligible to run again after two terms.

Key Perspectives

Jordan Bardella: Urged party activists to rally behind Marine Le Pen's presidential ambitions, saying he needs them "to lead Marine Le Pen to the Élysée."

Olivier Faure (Socialist Party leader): Accused the RN of contributing to a "poisonous, racist and xenophobic climate."

Sophie Binet (CGT trade union leader): Criticised the party, declaring that "there is no worse enemy of working men and women than the far right."

What to Watch

Marine Le Pen's speech on Sunday and whether it outlines specific policy proposals beyond the theme of "rebirth."
The level of public support or opposition in the coming months as the presidential campaign intensifies.
Potential challenges from within the RN if its electoral strategy does not yield a victory in 2027.

Sources

Bardella wins 99% backing as Le Pen gears up for French presidential race · Euronews

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

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SupportedBardella received 99 percent backing as the RN sought to consolidate its position ahead of the presidential race.Euronews: “Bardella has been overwhelmingly re-elected leader of France's National Rally (RN), securing 98.98% of the vote in an uncontested leadership election. The result was announced on Saturday, the opening day of the party's two-day congress in Orléans, as the RN seeks to consolidate its position ahead of the 2027 presidential election.”
SupportedMarine Le Pen was due to address thousands on Sunday with an expected campaign speech.Euronews: “Le Pen is due to address thousands of supporters on Sunday, when she is expected to set out the next phase of her presidential campaign.”
SupportedBardella was re-elected with 98.98 percent of the vote in an uncontested election.Euronews: “Bardella has been overwhelmingly re-elected leader of France's National Rally (RN), securing 98.98% of the vote in an uncontested leadership election.”
SupportedBardella received 75,497 votes and there were 779 blank ballots, according to RN lawmaker Yoann Gillet, who oversaw the election.Euronews: “Bardella received 75,497 votes, with 779 blank ballots cast, according to RN lawmaker Yoann Gillet, who oversaw the election.”
SupportedTurnout among party members was nearly 68 percent, with electronic voting from 21 September to 22 October.Euronews: “Turnout among party members reached nearly 68%, with electronic voting taking place between 21 September and 22 October.”
Partly supportedBardella said: “Once again, I am going to need you to lead Marine Le Pen to the Élysée.”Euronews: “"Once again, I am going to need you (...) to lead Marine Le Pen to the Élysée," he told supporters.”
SupportedLe Pen is expected to seek the presidency, while Bardella is positioning himself as a potential prime minister if the RN secures a parliamentary majority.Euronews: “Under that strategy, Le Pen is expected to seek the presidency, while Bardella is positioning himself as a potential prime minister should the party secure a parliamentary majority.”
SupportedAuthorities estimated the protest turnout at around 11,000, while organisers put it at 26,000.Euronews: “Authorities estimated the turnout at around 11,000, while organisers put the figure at 26,000.”
SupportedThe march began around midday and remained peaceful.Euronews: “The march, which began around midday, remained peaceful.”
SupportedLe Pen’s entourage described her Sunday address as a “high-calibre” speech centred on “rebirth”.Euronews: “According to her entourage, the address will be a "high-calibre" speech centred on the theme of "rebirth".”