Le Pen seen as tougher 2027 contender than Bardella
Marine Le Pen's decision to run for the French presidency in 2027 rather than stepping aside for Jordan Bardella is viewed by European lawmakers as a greater threat to the establishment, largely due to her more voter-friendly economic platform.
Marine Le Pen has announced she will run for the French presidency in 2027, with Jordan Bardella instead targeting the prime minister's office. Despite facing a fraud conviction that nearly derailed her candidacy, her decision to retain the top spot on the National Rally ticket is altering the calculus for her opponents.
Centrist and left-wing members of the European Parliament widely consider Le Pen a more formidable opponent in a second-round vote than the younger Bardella. While early polling suggested Bardella might secure a broader first-round base, lawmakers in Brussels argue that Le Pen possesses a deeper, more resilient appeal among the French electorate.
This distinction carries significant implications for French economic policy and business sentiment. Le Pen and Bardella diverge sharply on two critical issues for voters: lowering the legal retirement age to 62 and imposing exceptional taxes on energy companies' excess profits. Le Pen has embraced both measures, whereas Bardella has positioned himself closer to the French upper class and corporate interests.
For investors and business leaders, the candidate choice signals divergent regulatory risks. Sandro Gozi, an MEP from the centrist Democratic Movement, noted that Bardella’s attempts to court big industry contrast sharply with Le Pen’s long-standing anti-elite posture. “Everything in him is very well studied to open the door of the big industry, even his love story with the princess,” Gozi said, referring to Bardella’s relationship with Maria Carolina di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, the daughter of a business banker.
Beyond specific policy platforms, Le Pen's political durability remains a central asset. Her three previous failed presidential bids and recent legal battles have fortified her outsider image. “People admire her scars,” Gozi said.
Opponents also doubt Bardella's ability to handle rigorous scrutiny. “She is more experienced and ready to stand presidential debates, while he would be very weak if you go beyond the talking points,” said Manon Aubry, head of the left-wing France Unbowed delegation. Socialist MEP Brando Benifei concluded that Le Pen ultimately represents a more solid, and therefore more dangerous, candidate for the RN, dampening hopes among rivals that a generational handover would weaken the party's prospects.
