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.
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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
Philippe proposes adding capitalization component to French pay-as-you-go pension system
Édouard Philippe proposed complementing the French pension system's pay-as-you-go component with a capitalization component. He stated that all employees would be associated with capital appreciation through this addition, reconciling work and capital while benefiting everyone. Philippe indicated his desire for all French people to have access to a retirement savings plan, which he intended to make one of the most attractive investments on the market.
Philippe's pension reform includes exemptions for workers with difficult careers and health conditions
Under Philippe's proposed pension reform, retirement age would not change for people in poor health, remaining at 55 years for people with disabilities, 60 years for people with permanent incapacity, and 62 years for people in invalidity. Additionally, long-career provisions would allow early retirement for those who began working at a young age. Philippe emphasized that the reform would take into account people who began work very young, those in physically demanding professions, and those whose bodies have been worn down by work.
Édouard Philippe announces pension reform proposal raising retirement age to 65
Édouard Philippe, Horizons candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, announced a pension reform proposal in a video published on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The proposal aims to gradually increase the contribution period to 45 years and the legal retirement age to 65 years. Philippe stated that approximately one-third of French workers will be able to retire before age 65, between ages 60 and 64. The reform would resume the 2023 reform (suspended in 2025) and gradually increase the legal retirement age from the current 62 years and 9 months to 65 years within less than 10 years, while increasing the contribution period from 42.5 years to 45 years.
Philippe commits to returning pension system management to social partners after achieving balance
Philippe proposed that social partners (unions and employer organizations) would have a full role in defining the balance of the pension system. He committed that once the system is returned to balance, he would entrust its complete management to social partners, who would ensure its daily, responsible management through a golden rule of balance.
Mediapart reports antisemitic writings from Jordan Bardella dating to 2013
Mediapart published an investigation reporting antisemitic writings attributed to Jordan Bardella from 2013, when he was a young activist in the National Front (RN). According to the reports, Bardella wrote in a conversation: "The Jew must dominate other peoples, crush them and steal from them, a Zionist is necessarily Jewish, and fundamentally." The reports also allege that Bardella defended the existence of a supposed Jewish conspiracy aimed at controlling world order.
Marine Le Pen rejects allegations against Bardella as implausible
Marine Le Pen, candidate for the 2027 presidential election, rejected the allegations against Jordan Bardella as implausible. She stated that nobody can believe such claims and characterized them as obvious forgeries resulting from Mediapart's alleged tactics. Le Pen made these statements while campaigning at a construction industry professionals' trade show in Paris.
Jordan Bardella denies antisemitic writings as gross forgeries
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Front, formally contested the Mediapart allegations in an email response. He denied ever having made racist or antisemitic statements publicly or privately, orally or in writing. Bardella argued that the documents were gross forgeries and pointed out that he was not an active activist within the National Front during summer 2013 and was still a minor at the time.
Toluna-Harris Interactive poll shows Marine Le Pen leading 2027 presidential runoff scenarios
A Toluna-Harris Interactive poll conducted September 22-24, 2026 among 1,974 representative French respondents shows Marine Le Pen, National Rally (RN) parliamentary leader, polling at 57% against Édouard Philippe (Horizons) at 43% and 69% against Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France insoumise) at 31% in hypothetical second-round runoff scenarios for the 2027 presidential election.
Le Pen leads first-round presidential polling at 35-36 percent
According to the Toluna-Harris Interactive poll, Marine Le Pen is measured at between 35 and 36 percent of vote intention in first-round scenarios for the 2027 presidential election, establishing a dominant position among all tested candidates.
Glucksmann outpolls Hollande among social-democratic candidates
Raphaël Glucksmann (Place publique) polls at 10-11 percent while François Hollande (PS) polls at 7-8 percent in first-round scenarios, showing stronger support for Glucksmann as the social-democratic candidate.
Mélenchon polls second at 18 percent in first-round scenarios
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, candidate for La France insoumise, is measured at 18 percent of vote intention in first-round polling scenarios where either Raphaël Glucksmann or François Hollande represents the social-democratic left wing.
Minor candidates Zemmour, Tondelier, Roussel, Dupont-Aignan poll in single digits
Éric Zemmour (Reconquête) is measured at 5-6 percent, Marine Tondelier at 3-5 percent, Fabien Roussel at 2-3 percent, and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan at 2 percent in first-round scenarios.
Philippe polls at 16 percent in first-round presidential scenarios
Édouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre and Horizons candidate, is measured at 16 percent of vote intention in first-round polling when social-democratic candidates Glucksmann or Hollande are tested.
Retailleau (LR) polls at 8-10 percent depending on centrist candidate
Bruno Retailleau, Les Républicains candidate, is measured at 10 percent if Gabriel Attal represents the centrist bloc and 8-9 percent if Édouard Philippe represents it.
Attal polls lower than Philippe as centrist candidate option
Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister, is measured at 12-13 percent of first-round support, performing weaker than Édouard Philippe who polls at 16 percent when both are tested as centrist bloc representatives.
National Rally forms first-ever parliamentary group at French Senate
The National Rally (RN) established a parliamentary group at the French Senate for the first time, breaking the historical dominance of the right at the upper chamber. This occurred on September 27, 2026, during the presidential campaign.
De Villepin proposes point-based pension system with flexible retirement age
De Villepin outlined his pension reform proposal, which would replace the current system with a points-based retirement system. This system would allow individuals total freedom to choose their retirement age while maintaining fiscal balance. Social partners would set the point value based on life expectancy and by professional sector.
Dominique de Villepin announces plan to constitutionally enshrine social negotiation principle
Dominique de Villepin, quasi-candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, stated his intention to inscribe the principle of social negotiation into both law and the Constitution. He specifically proposed giving unions primacy in negotiation processes through a social charter. This announcement came during a radio interview on RTL-M6-Public-Sénat-Ouest-France.
De Villepin pledges full transparency regarding campaign financing
De Villepin stated that financing for his presidential candidacy would be subject to complete transparency, dismissing concerns about funding for his campaign.
De Villepin states he is seeking 500 endorsements required for presidential candidacy
De Villepin affirmed his intention to be a candidate in the 2027 presidential election and stated that he is actively seeking the 500 endorsements from elected officials required for candidacy. He characterized the political situation as complicated, noting that traditional political parties are reluctant to share endorsements, but expressed confidence that mayors and elected officials across France want a democratic election.
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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.