French far-right party elects new leader to replace Le Pen, wants ‘drastic’ limits on immigration

European lawmaker Jordan Bardella replaced his mentor Marine Le Pen on Saturday at the helm of France’s leading far-right party, and pledged to defend French civilisation from perceived threats posed by immigration and work closely with far-right parties around Europe.Bardella, 27, won an internal party vote with 85 per cent support, marking a symbolic changing of the guard at the resurgent National Rally party. He is the first person to lead the party who doesn’t have the Le Pen name since it was founded a half-century ago.The National Rally is seeking to capitalise on its recent breakthrough in France’s legislative election and growing support for far-right parties in Europe, notably in neighbouring Italy. It’s also facing broad public anger over a racist comment this week by a National Rally member in parliament.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 says 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 “road map” of taking power in France.“We are going to win!” supporters chanted

Anti-racism activists, union leaders and politicians protested nearby on Saturday against the National Rally, denouncing what many see as a creeping acceptance of its xenophobic views.

Yeliz Alkac, 30, said she was showing to support people who face persistent racism in France. She described shock and dismay that the racist remark toward a black lawmaker in parliament was seen as “normal” by some in France.

“The fact that the National Rally has 89 lawmakers at the National Assembly is a strong signal. It should be a warning about how the extreme right is going strong,” she said.