Jordan Bardella, President of the French far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party, spoke to the media before signing copies of his book 'Ce que je cherche' (What I'm looking for) in Paris, France, on December 4, 2024. – Reuters
As French lawmakers voted to topple the government on Wednesday, thousands of people gathered outside a cafe in northern Paris, eager to meet the rising star of the French far right. Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old protégé of nationalist leader Marine Le Pen, is a member of the European Parliament. He was not present at the National Assembly, where his fellow National Rally (RN) party members voted to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Instead, Bardella was just a few kilometers away, surrounded by fans, signing copies of his bestselling debut book, 'What I'm Looking For.'
'It's the book they don't want you to read,' Bardella proclaimed during a promotional tour that coincided with France's second major political crisis in six months. Le Pen played a key role in toppling Barnier's government over a 2025 budget bill that the RN and the left deemed too harsh on the working class. This has allowed Bardella to focus on promoting his book across France.
'I bought his book on the first day and read it immediately,' said Pierre Le Camus, a 25-year-old former parliamentary assistant to an RN lawmaker, outside the book-signing venue. 'I come to support him in everything he does.'
The reviews have been harsh - 'a marketing object ... devoid of any introspection or revelation,' Le Monde declared - but sales have been strong, with nearly 60,000 copies sold since its launch on November 9, according to Europe 1. Despite the negative reviews, the young crowd queuing in the cold to meet Bardella on Wednesday night was unconcerned. They were more focused on issues like rising gang violence and immigration, which Bardella has made central to his political message.
'We need things to change, and I think Bardella is the man to do it,' said 18-year-old Eric Berthelot, who comes from a rough suburb outside Paris. He described growing up surrounded by drugs, weapons, and stolen cars in a neighborhood with a large African immigrant population. Police presence was minimal, and security cameras were quickly destroyed. A few years ago, his friend was stabbed to death in a gang-related incident.
'France welcomes all the misery of the world,' he said. 'But those who arrive don't respect our culture and want to destroy our country. That's not acceptable and must be punished.'
Louis de Lassagne, a 19-year-old student from a wealthy town outside Paris, also expressed concern about rising crime. He mentioned the murder of Philippine, a 19-year-old middle-class girl allegedly killed by a Moroccan man due for deportation. The RN used her high-profile case to advocate for tougher immigration and crime laws.
Bardella often cites his upbringing in the poor and multi-ethnic Seine-Saint-Denis department north of Paris as the foundation of his political views. Ismael Habri, a 27-year-old janitor wearing a TRUMP badge, said he grew up in a similar environment.
'I know the ghetto well, so I understand Bardella,' he said. 'France needs hope. France needs to regain its sovereignty.'
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