Bardella pursues defamation lawsuit against Mediapart over alleged statements
Bardella pursues defamation suit as Mediapart vows further evidence supporting its authentication of disputed messages.
Event / Politics
Rassemblement National Controversies
Controversies involving the Rassemblement National party and its elected officials, including extremism-related disputes and, since October 2026, an investigation by the Laon prosecutor's office into alleged embezzlement of public funds by deputy José Beaurain, who denies the allegations. The Aisne gendarmerie is conducting the inquiry, and the National Assembly's ethics officer has been asked for additional checks.
5 reported locations
Daily activity
23 articles0 articles
2026-09-29 to 2026-10-29 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 29 Sept, 11:48 UTC
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What happened
José Beaurain receives a higher parliamentary staff allowance as the first blind deputy of the Fifth Republic
José Beaurain is the first blind deputy of the Fifth Republic. As a blind deputy he receives a parliamentary allowance of 15,000 euros for staff, compared with 10,000 euros for other deputies.
President of the National Assembly requests additional checks by the chamber's ethics officer
After the allegations became public in August 2026, the President of the National Assembly asked the chamber's ethics officer to conduct additional checks. The conclusions were still pending at the time of the reporting.
Internal warnings about José Beaurain were allegedly raised with RN parliamentary leadership from January 2024
Two former parliamentary assistants of José Beaurain state that they informed the secretary general of the Rassemblement national parliamentary group in January 2024 about the alleged misuse of their bonuses and expense allowance.
José Beaurain is suspected of employing his brother through a straw man
José Beaurain is suspected of having paid his brother using a nominee, a third party who received a salary and passed part of it on to the brother.
Le Canard enchaîné publicly revealed allegations against José Beaurain in late August 2026
The satirical newspaper Le Canard enchaîné published an article in late August 2026 detailing allegations of misuse of parliamentary allowances by José Beaurain.
José Beaurain is suspected of making personal purchases with his parliamentary allowance
José Beaurain is suspected of having made personal purchases using the expense allowance allocated to him as a deputy.
Rassemblement national maintained José Beaurain's candidacies for 2024 legislative and 2026 municipal elections
The Rassemblement national nominated José Beaurain for the 2024 legislative elections and for the 2026 municipal elections, including in Chauny in Aisne.
José Beaurain is suspected of asking assistants to return half their bonuses in cash
José Beaurain is suspected of having asked his parliamentary assistants to pay him back half of the bonuses paid to them, in cash.
Laon prosecutor opens investigation into RN deputy José Beaurain for embezzlement of public funds
The prosecutor of the Republic of Laon opened an investigation into José Beaurain, a Rassemblement national deputy for the 4th constituency of Aisne, on suspicion of misuse of public funds. The investigation was entrusted to the Aisne gendarmerie group. The prosecutor has stated that Beaurain remains presumed innocent.
Report filed against José Beaurain in August 2026 led to the inquiry
A report concerning José Beaurain was filed in August 2026. The report preceded the judicial investigation opened in October 2026 by the Laon prosecutor.
José Beaurain denies the allegations and has filed a defamation complaint against Le Canard enchaîné
José Beaurain denies all the allegations against him and has filed a complaint for defamation, abuse of trust, abuse of a vulnerable person, and theft of documents against the Canard enchaîné and the three former collaborators whose statements were cited.
Marine Le Pen allegedly summoned José Beaurain twice for reprimands in early 2024
Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement national deputies, allegedly summoned José Beaurain twice to her office at the National Assembly between January and April 2024 for reprimands.
About 13,000 people marched in Orléans against the RN congress
Approximately 13,000 people marched in Orléans on Saturday against the Rassemblement national congress, according to the Loiret prefecture. Organizers gave a figure of 26,000. The march took place calmly.
CRS-8 riot police unit deployed in Orléans during protests against RN congress
The CRS-8, a French riot control unit specialized in public order maintenance, was deployed in Orléans in connection with protests against the Rassemblement national congress.
Rassemblement national congress held in Orléans without major incidents
The Rassemblement national held its congress in Orléans under heavy police surveillance. The congress proceeded without major incidents.
Mediapart reporting team briefly removed from RN congress
A Mediapart reporting team was briefly extracted from the Rassemblement national congress in Orléans.
Marine Le Pen scheduled to give first major campaign speech at RN congress
Marine Le Pen was scheduled to deliver her first major campaign speech as a presidential candidate at the Rassemblement national congress on Sunday at 3:30 PM. The speech was framed around the theme of renaissance, six months before the 2027 presidential election.
Jordan Bardella re-elected president of the Rassemblement national
Jordan Bardella was re-elected president of the Rassemblement national with 98.98% of votes cast, representing 75,497 members. He was the only candidate, and 779 blank ballots were counted.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon takes part in Paris demonstration against the far right
Jean-Luc Mélenchon took part in a demonstration in Paris on Saturday as part of the 'acte II' mobilisation. Several left-wing candidates and elected officials also demonstrated against the Rassemblement national, some of them in Orléans.
Demonstrations banned in Orléans on Sunday, final day of RN congress
Gatherings and demonstrations in Orléans were prohibited for Sunday, the last day of the Rassemblement national congress.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Mediapart Verifies Authenticity of Bardella's 2013 Antisemitic Messages
Mediapart authenticates 2013 antisemitic messages attributed to Bardella through biographical verification and platform records.
Mediapart publishes messages in escalating Bardella dispute
Mediapart publishes antisemitic messages attributed to Bardella; he files defamation lawsuit as outlet promises more evidence.
Macron escalates criticism of Bardella over antisemitism and press relations
Macron condemns Bardella's attributed antisemitism and party's press aggression; Bardella cites pro-Israel engagement as counter.
Macron condemns Bardella's rhetoric as grave and unacceptable
Macron condemns Bardella's attributed antisemitic statements as grave and unacceptable while criticizing the far-right party's press rhetoric.
International figures rally behind Bardella amid antisemitism controversy
Le Pen and an Israeli minister voiced support for Bardella amid antisemitism allegations.
Bardella Files Defamation Suit as Mediapart Vows Further Evidence
Bardella sued Mediapart for defamation; Mediapart vowed to publish more evidence.
Mediapart Investigation Documents Bardella Antisemitic Statements from 2013
Mediapart investigation documents antisemitic statements attributed to Bardella from 2013.
Party leadership claims internal purges removed antisemitic members
National Rally claims antisemitic purges; ministers dispute whether such measures address structural antisemitism.
Political Divide Widens Over Bardella Allegations Response
Support and resignation calls divide France along partisan lines over Bardella allegations.
Bardella Denies Antisemitic Messages, Claims Political Setup
Bardella denies antisemitic messages, alleges political conspiracy targeting his campaign.