Bardella denies antisemitic messages, files defamation suits against Mediapart
Bardella denies antisemitic messages, files lawsuits; voters remain skeptical of his denial.
Event / Politics
French Presidential Election 2027
Coverage of the 2027 French presidential election campaign, including candidate announcements, policy positions, and political developments across the political spectrum.
10 reported locations
Daily activity
55 articles0 articles
2026-08-02 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 28 Mar, 12:07 UTC
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What happened
Housing Ministry proposes freezing housing assistance instead of inflation indexation
Vincent Jeanbrun, French Minister of Housing, announced the government plans to freeze housing assistance payments (APL - Aides Personnalisées au Logement) by not indexing them to inflation as part of the 2027 budget. This measure aims to free up fiscal resources for facilitating property ownership while maintaining essential aid at current levels.
Jean-Marc Jancovici launches citizens assembly for 2027 presidential election
Climate transition expert Jean-Marc Jancovici initiated 'Un commun accord' (A Common Agreement), a citizen assembly composed of approximately 150 randomly selected participants representing French society's diversity. The assembly held its first session on September 19, 2026, at Paris's Conservatoire national des arts et métiers and is scheduled to deliver conclusions in February 2027, weeks before the presidential election.
Philippe Brun's lawyers announce intention to file defamation lawsuit
On September 19, 2026, lawyers for Philippe Brun announced their intention to file a lawsuit for false denunciation (dénonciation calomnieuse). The lawyers argue that Brun is a victim of internal Socialist Party rivalries and that the accusations against him are unfounded and vague, involving a collaboratrice who was fired for serious misconduct in June 2026.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan launches 2027 presidential campaign with 'Freedom Festival'
Presidential candidate Nicolas Dupont-Aignan launched his 2027 campaign on September 19, 2026, through a 'Fête de la liberté' (Freedom Festival) event in Yerres, Essonne, featuring roundtables, debates, and a concert, with his campaign speech scheduled for 4 PM.
Philippe Brun excluded from Socialist Party primary due to violence accusations
Philippe Brun, Socialist deputy from Eure and founder of École pour l'engagement, was excluded from the Socialist Party primary on September 16, 2026, due to accusations of violence made by a former collaboratrice. The party's national bureau voted to exclude him on a precautionary basis and invalidate his candidacy for the primary.
French government considers extending or increasing 'big drivers' fuel assistance
The French government is examining proposals to extend or increase the 'prime grands rouleurs' (big drivers' premium), a 100-euro financial assistance program established to help modest-income workers facing rising fuel prices.
French public debt projected to reach 121.7% of GDP in 2027
The French Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that France's public debt will reach 119.3% of GDP in 2026 and 121.7% in 2027, the highest levels since 1995. The ministry attributed this increase to persistent high budget deficits and mechanical effects on debt-to-GDP ratios.
Sixth edition of left-wing political gathering opens in Aude region
The sixth annual Rencontres de la gauche (Left-Wing Encounters), excluding France Insoumise, opened on September 19, 2026, in Bram, Aude, organized by Carole Delga, Socialist president of the Occitanie region. The event features over 60 speakers including presidential candidates Raphaël Glucksmann and Jérôme Guedj.
Jordan Bardella leads National Rally political rally in Picardy region
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (Rassemblement National), participated in the party's 'Picardy comeback' event on September 19, 2026, in Breteuil-sur-Noye, Oise, with all National Rally deputies from Aisne, Oise, and Somme present to prepare for the 2027 presidential election.
RN expels municipal police officer for racist and sexist remarks
The National Rally announced the immediate expulsion of a municipal police officer and party member following media revelation of a video in which he made multiple racist and sexist statements.
Marine Le Pen leads 2027 presidential election polling at over 34 percent
Marine Le Pen holds a commanding lead in first-round polling for the 2027 French presidential election, with recent surveys placing her support above 34 percent. She significantly outpaces her main competitors, including Édouard Philippe from Horizons and Jean-Luc Mélenchon from La France Insoumise.
RN parliamentary conference held at Le Touquet ahead of campaign launch
The National Rally held closed-door parliamentary sessions at Le Touquet on September 12-13, 2026, bringing together party leadership and lawmakers. Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella emphasized the need to campaign as if polling at 14 percent and not to assume qualification for the second round is guaranteed.
Center-right and centrist candidates conduct scattered campaign activities
Bruno Retailleau attacked the National Rally and left-wing opponents in Val-de-Marne, Édouard Philippe campaigned at an agricultural festival in Moselle, and Gabriel Attal positioned himself as the sole advocate for gathering support from 'right to left' across the political spectrum.
Marine Le Pen proposes housing-focused platform for 2027 campaign
Marine Le Pen focused her campaign speech on housing policy, proposing measures including freeing up construction land for developers, applying 'national priority' to social housing allocation, eliminating environmental restrictions (ZAN), and mandating bank facilitation of credit access. She also proposed anti-squatting legislation and expulsion procedures for families of delinquents from social housing.
Left-wing presidential candidates campaign at Fête de l'Humanité in Essonne
Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Fabien Roussel, competing left-wing presidential candidates, delivered speeches at the Fête de l'Humanité held in Essonne. Roussel launched his communist party campaign, highlighting divisions within the left bloc over candidacies and Green party concerns regarding primary processes.
Marine Le Pen launches 2027 presidential campaign rally in Hénin-Beaumont
Marine Le Pen, candidate of the National Rally (RN), held a campaign rally in Hénin-Beaumont, Pas-de-Calais on September 13, 2026, after a period of political uncertainty. The planned outdoor stroll through the local market was cancelled due to persistent rain, and the meeting was moved indoors. Approximately 2,000 people attended the approximately 40-minute speech.
Marine Le Pen states willingness to allow imperfect budget adoption before election
Marine Le Pen, head of RN parliamentary deputies, publicly stated she was willing to allow the government to adopt a budget before the presidential election, even if it was imperfect, while setting red lines against any tax increases or 'social injustice'.
National Rally holds political rally in Hautes-Pyrénées
The National Rally (RN) held a political rally in Hautes-Pyrénées on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with departmental delegate Olivier Monteil announcing the party's priorities including state authority, reindustrialization, and protection of small business owners and middle classes. The party stated it has 150,000 members and is the leading political force in France.
Daniel Spagnou, former mayor of Sisteron, dies
Daniel Spagnou, former mayor of Sisteron and former president of the French mayors association, died on August 31, 2026.
Socialist Party candidates outline policy positions for 2027 election
Olivier Faure, First Secretary of the Socialist Party, held political events announcing the party's policy positions including a proposal to levy 15 billion euros annually on large inheritances, stance on school meal accompaniment policies, and budget negotiations with other political forces. Faure indicated the Socialist Party had not reached agreement with Jean-Luc Mélenchon's left coalition.
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2 alternative perspectives
Mélenchon expands autumn campaign across strategic French cities
Mélenchon expands autumn campaign across strategic cities while strengthening rural organizing.
France targets five percent budget deficit amid campaign fiscal pressures
France targets 5% deficit in 2027 budget facing National Rally opposition and rising debt pressures.
Mélenchon threatens prosecution as central banker defends monetary independence
Mélenchon threatens treason prosecution; Moulin defends central bank independence from political interference.
Le Pen defends Bardella amid antisemitic writings controversy
Le Pen publicly defends Bardella against antisemitic writings allegations as National Rally maintains polling lead.
Bardella rejects budget support, complicating fiscal governance ahead of election
National Rally leader Bardella rejects current 2027 budget support amid France's escalating fiscal crisis.
Le Pen unveils ambitious economic platform targeting 140 billion euros in savings
National Rally's economic platform targets 140 billion euros in savings through tax elimination, pension reform, and reduced EU contributions.
France's media regulator reviews podcast rules ahead of 2027 election
France's media regulator is reviewing podcast regulation as digital creators gain election influence.
Philippe proposes sixty-five retirement age with sector exemptions
Philippe proposes sixty-five retirement age, forty-five contribution years, with exemptions for difficult careers and capitalization components.
Philippe outlines pension reform raising retirement age to sixty-five
Philippe proposes raising France's retirement age to 65 with targeted exemptions and capitalization components.
Mediapart publishes alleged antisemitic writings attributed to Bardella
Mediapart reports alleged antisemitic writings from Bardella; he denies them as forgeries.
National Rally achieves historic Senate milestone with first parliamentary group
National Rally forms first Senate parliamentary group, expanding institutional presence before 2027 election.