Jérôme Fourquet: "Bardella can achieve a tour de force: attract the wealthiest while retaining the popular electorate"
Jérôme Fourquet discusses Jordan Bardella's potential to attract affluent voters without alienating the National Rally's popular base.
In a recent episode of 'La France de Fourquet' on Le Figaro TV, Jérôme Fourquet, the Opinion Director at Ifop, analyzes the political trajectory of Jordan Bardella. As Marine Le Pen faces a potential ban from the 2027 elections due to legal troubles stemming from her parliamentary assistant trial, Fourquet raises important questions about the strategy Bardella might employ to win over wealthier voters while keeping the traditional National Rally (RN) base content. Given the historical challenges for the RN in appealing to affluent demographics, Fourquet suggests that Bardella's approach will be crucial to balancing these competing voter segments.
Following the March 31, 2025 deadline, Le Pen's ineligibility due to her legal issues could significantly alter the political landscape of France. Fourquet emphasizes that the stakes are high, with Bardella needing not only to maintain but also energize the support of both liberal circles and the RN’s populist supporters. This unique challenge may define the future of the party and Bardella's own political aspirations.
Fourquet's commentary serves as a critical examination of France's evolving political dynamics ahead of the upcoming elections. With Le Pen’s legal issues looming and the political ambitions of newcomers like Bardella, the ability to navigate these complexities could very well determine the RN’s success or failure in future electoral contests.