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Jordan Bardella succeeded his mentor Marine Le Pen on Saturday at the helm of France’s most popular right-wing party, National Rally.
Bardella, 27, won an internal party vote with 85% support, marking a symbolic change of the guard at the resurgent anti-immigration party.
He is the first person to lead the party who does not come from the Le Pen family since it was founded a half-century ago.
Bardella pledged to protect France from perceived threats posed by illegal immigration.
The National Rally is seeking to capitalize on its recent breakthrough in France’s legislative election and growing support for right-wing and conservative parties in Europe, notably in neighbouring Italy.
Marine Le Pen is still expected to wield significant power in the party’s leadership and run again for France’s presidency in 2027.
She said she stepped aside to focus on leading the party’s 89 lawmakers in France’s National Assembly.
To broad applause, she hugged Bardella after the results were announced at a party congress on Paris’ Left Bank, and both raised their arms in victory.
Le Pen said Bardella’s main challenge would be pursuing the party “roadmap” of taking power in France.
“We are going to win!” supporters chanted.
