French far-right party leader Marine Le Pen was succeeded by European legislator Jordan Bardella on Saturday. Bardella vowed to protect French civilization from perceived challenges presented by immigration and cooperate closely with far-right parties around Europe.
With 85% of the vote, 27-year-old Bardella won a vote within the party, signalling a symbolic change of leadership at the resurgent National Rally party. Since the party's founding fifty years ago, he is the first leader who does not have the Le Pen name.
The National Rally is looking to take advantage of its recent success in the French parliamentary elections and the rising popularity of far-right parties across Europe, particularly in Italy's immediate neighbourhood.
A member of the National Rally made a racist remark in parliament this week, which has drawn widespread public ire.
In the party's leadership, Marine Le Pen is still anticipated to have major influence and seek for president of France once more in 2027. She claims she resigned so she could concentrate on guiding the 89 members of the party who sit in the National Assembly of France.
She gave Bardella a victory embrace when the results were announced at a party assembly on Paris' Left Bank amid thunderous cheers. The pursuit of the party's "roadmap" for assuming power in France, according to Le Pen, will be Bardella's key obstacle.
Supporters chanted, "We are going to win!"
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