An
Italian princess and EU budgets: 5 takeaways from POLITICO’s Jordan Bardella
interview
The
French far-right leader talks Donald Trump, NATO — and love.
June 15,
2026 4:02 am CET
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-jordan-bardella-5-takeaways-from-politico-interview/
BRUSSELS
— If Europe’s mainstream politicians were under the impression that the French
far right was preparing to soften its edges and settle into the rhythms of EU
dealmaking, Jordan Bardella just shattered their illusions.
In a
wide-ranging conversation ahead of a trip to Poland, the National Rally leader
doused hopes that he might prove a more accommodating European partner than his
mentor, Marine Le Pen. Instead, he showed no signs of moderating plans to slash
France’s EU budget contribution, deepen ties with nationalist allies and
reshape the bloc from within.
Here are
five things to know about POLITICO’s exclusive interview with the far-right
leader who could be France’s next president.
The full
interview is available here.
He wants
to halve France’s contribution to the EU budget
Cutting
back on how much money Paris sends to Brussels has long been a core National
Rally demand, but Bardella significantly
raised the stakes by calling for a 50 percent cut in France’s
contribution. “We will give the French their money back,” Bardella said.
The
proposed cut — far deeper than figures previously floated — and Bardella’s
readiness to confront Brussels over it points to a serious showdown if he
becomes France’s president in 2027. Bardella is leading early polls as an
appeals court weighs whether Marine Le Pen can run, a decision that could
determine which of them becomes the National Rally’s candidate.
He
criticized an effort in Brussels to pass the bloc’s long-term budget by the end
of the year as “profoundly anti-democratic.”
“The next
French executive, whoever it may be, must have a say in this budget because it
will commit France — and thus the future of the French people and the budget of
our fellow citizens — for years to come,” he said, vowing to have the French
parliament cut the contributions if necessary.
He
doesn’t want Donald Trump’s endorsement
Bardella described
the U.S. president’s actions as “not only erratic, but also extremely
unsteady and constantly shifting,” a sharp shift in tone from his previous
favorable public statements.
“President
Trump’s second term is very significantly different from the first,” Bardella
said, noting Trump was “harder to read.” Washington, he added, now views itself
as “an empire” with a sphere of influence in the Western hemisphere. “It is
threatening to Europe in the sense that it impacts many European countries —
not France — with this fear of American disengagement.”
Bardella
also rejected a potential endorsement from Trump, who has attempted to
influence elections in Hungary, Poland and Argentina by backing leaders who
align with his politics. “The support we’re seeking with Marine Le Pen is that
of the French people, the support of French voters,” he said. “We don’t need to
open the door to any form of interference.”
He struck
a reassuring tone on European defense and NATO
Bardella,
speaking ahead of a trip to Poland aimed at burnishing his international
credentials, sought to reassure French allies concerned about the National
Rally’s stance on NATO.
The party
is traditionally isolationist, and while Bardella has endorsed Le Pen’s
long-standing pledge to withdraw France from NATO’s integrated military
command, he has said he will wait until after the war in Ukraine is over.
“One
doesn’t redefine the framework of treaties in times of war,” he said.
“Therefore, our priority will be to work, through new French leadership, to
restore peace at Europe’s doorstep, first through a ceasefire in Ukraine and
then to the establishment of security guarantees that must allow Ukraine to
defend its borders.”
The
far-right leader also backed raising defense spending to 3 percent of GDP
between 2030 and 2035, calling it essential to France’s freedom and security.
He said that security commitments made to Eastern flank allies, including
Romania and the Baltic states, would be upheld if his party comes to
power.
He is
reaching out to ideological bedfellows
Bardella’s
trip comes amid a broader outreach to potential partners in Europe. While he has made
overtures to Germany’s
conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he made clear that he sought to
form alliances first and foremost with fellow nationalists, such as Italian
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The
French far-right leader is scheduled to meet with the right-wing Law and
Justice party in Warsaw this week. The party is polling second ahead of
parliamentary elections scheduled for 2027 in the country and could be in a
position to form a governing coalition with other rightwing Euroskeptic
parties.
“Our
ambition is to think big and to build this new European architecture that we
envision,” Bardella said.
He’s in
love
Giorgia
Meloni isn’t the only Italian woman on Bardella’s mind.
The
far-right leader’s relationship with Maria Carolina de Bourbon des
Deux-Siciles, an Italian princess and influencer, has become a tabloid
sensation — and fodder for political attacks.
“Bardella
has never been on the side of the workers; he prefers to drink champagne in
Monaco with his princess,” Fabien Roussel, the French Communist leader, said
after the couple was photographed in Monaco attending a Formula One race.
Asked if
she would accompany him on his travels, Bardella demurred.
“Listen,
she doesn’t do politics,” he said. “Now, she is by my side, and she is an
extraordinary woman, a remarkable woman. So I am extremely happy and extremely
in love. Now will she accompany me on political trips? I don’t know.”
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