Danièle Obono Warns French Left Split Boosts 30-Year-Old Bardella Ahead of 2027 Vote
Updated
Updated · Jacobin magazine · Jun 20
Danièle Obono Warns French Left Split Boosts 30-Year-Old Bardella Ahead of 2027 Vote
1 articles · Updated · Jacobin magazine · Jun 20
Summary
Less than a year before France’s 2027 presidential election, LFI lawmaker Danièle Obono said the French left’s fragmentation is helping the far right gain ground.
Jordan Bardella, 30, is leading polling in both the first and second rounds after Marine Le Pen was barred from running following her embezzlement conviction.
The strain follows the Nouveau Front Populaire’s 2024 breakthrough, when the left-wing alliance became the largest bloc in the National Assembly before tensions resurfaced between LFI and the Socialist Party.
Obono’s interview also focused on the rise of racialized politics and on how the left might confront an increasingly powerful Rassemblement National in a race without Emmanuel Macron, who cannot seek a third straight term.
How has Jordan Bardella’s 'normalized' far-right become France's frontrunner while traditional political powers have faded?
Will deep-seated issues of racism and police brutality become the deciding factor in France's next presidential election?
Is a Bardella presidency a threat to the EU, or will his pragmatism lead France down Italy's path?
France on the Brink: How the Far-Right National Rally Leads the 2027 Presidential Race Amid Leftist Divisions and Centrist Collapse
Overview
France is facing a major political shift as the National Rally (RN), led by Jordan Bardella, rises rapidly in popularity. Recent opinion polls show Bardella as the leading candidate for the 2027 presidential election, with the RN poised to win. This surge comes during a deepening political crisis marked by a fractured parliament and declining trust in traditional institutions. The RN’s growth is part of a wider European trend, where far-right and nationalist movements gain strength, fueled by public anger over immigration and economic insecurity. These changes signal a new era for French and European politics.