# Rassemblement National political influence in France > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rassemblement-national-political-influence-in-france > Updated: 2026-09-30T14:02:58.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 3. Political tensions in France have intensified regarding the Rassemblement National (RN). Initial friction emerged as public figures and journalists faced pressure to take stances on the party, with some media figures initiating lists of those who oppose the RN and athletes voicing concerns over the rise of the far-right. Following these tensions, the RN achieved a significant electoral milestone by increasing its Senate presence fourfold to 15 seats. Marine Le Pen characterized the result as a “historic victory.” Alongside this political growth, RN President Jordan Bardella initiated a defamation lawsuit against Mediapart following reports alleging he sent antisemitic messages in his youth, which he dismissed as “gross falsehoods” intended to “destabilize” his campaign. Recent scrutiny has intensified following Mediapart reports regarding antisemitic remarks attributed to Vice-President Jordan Bardella. In response, RN leadership has employed sharp rhetoric; Marine Le Pen suggested journalists should wear bulletproof vests, while Bardella characterized the reporting as a “guerre totale” (total war) against the party. The CFDT-Journalistes union condemned these statements, labeling them as veiled physical threats and asserting that journalists should not become “cibles désignées” (designated targets). French President Emmanuel Macron has since weighed in on the controversy, calling on the RN to clarify its political stance. Speaking from Madrid, Macron described the reported remarks attributed to Bardella as “extremely serious and unacceptable,” asserting that such rhetoric has no place in the Republic. This dispute occurs as the French presidential campaign intensifies, raising questions about the RN’s strategy of de-demonization. These developments follow a legal ruling in which the Paris Court of Appeal convicted Marine Le Pen for misappropriation of public funds. While the court allowed her to remain eligible for presidential candidacy, the ongoing controversies surrounding RN leadership have raised concerns regarding the impact of political conduct on democratic institutions. ## Claims - Jordan Bardella denied writing the antisemitic messages, calling them crude forgeries and a destabilization attempt. (corroborated by 11 sources) - Emmanuel Macron described the reported antisemitic remarks as extremely serious and unacceptable. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Mediapart published an investigation alleging Jordan Bardella made antisemitic comments in private exchanges between 2013 and 2015. (corroborated by 10 sources) - President Macron called on the Rassemblement National to clarify its political line and the words used by its members. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Jordan Bardella responded to Macron on X, stating he marched in the streets of Paris and traveled to Israel after October 7, 2023. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Jordan Bardella announced he would pursue legal action for defamation against Mediapart. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Marine Le Pen suggested that Mediapart journalists should wear 'kevlar suits' (bulletproof vests) following the revelations. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The CFDT-Journalistes union condemned the threats made by the Rassemblement National against Mediapart journalists. (single source) - The Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) announced it would refer the matter to the United Nations, calling the comments an intimidation measure. (single source) - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the verbal attacks and physical threats directed at Mediapart. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: Jordan Bardella faces antisemitism allegations and political backlash President Emmanuel Macron has demanded clarity from the Rassemblement National after Mediapart reported alleged antisemitic messages from Jordan Bardella. Bardella denies the claims, calling them fakes. 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/emmanuel-macron-urges-rn-to-clarify-stance-amid-bardella-antisemitism-allegations ### 2026-09-28: Rassemblement National wins Senate seats amid defamation lawsuit France's far-right Rassemblement National secured a major Senate election victory while leader Jordan Bardella faces a legal battle over alleged past antisemitic messages reported by Mediapart. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rassemblement-national-wins-senate-seats-amid-defamation-lawsuit ### 2026-09-25: France: Political tensions rise over Rassemblement National French media and public figures are facing increasing polarization as journalist Pascal Praud proposes listing RN opponents, while athletes like Teddy Riner weigh in on the rise of the far-right. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-political-tensions-rise-over-rassemblement-national --- Cite as: Rassemblement National political influence in France. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rassemblement-national-political-influence-in-france