Paris: On Wednesday, as French lawmakers voted to oust the government, thousands gathered outside a northern Paris café for a chance to meet Jordan Bardella, the rising star of the French far-right. The 29-year-old ally of nationalist leader Marine Le Pen and a Member of the European Parliament was not in the National Assembly casting his vote to remove Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Instead, he was just a few kilometers away, surrounded by fans eager to meet him, as he signed copies of his debut book, What I'm Looking For.
Bardella, while promoting his book during France's second major political crisis of the year, declared, “It’s the book they don’t want you to read.” His book, which addresses themes that resonate with his far-right base, is part of a whirlwind promotional tour that coincides with the political turbulence caused by Le Pen’s successful push to topple Barnier’s government over a budget bill deemed too harsh on the working class.
Despite harsh criticism from some media outlets, such as Le Monde, which dismissed the book as "a marketing object devoid of introspection," it has sold nearly 60,000 copies since its release in November. Outside the café, fans like Pierre Le Camus, a 25-year-old former parliamentary assistant, expressed unwavering support. “I bought his book on the first day and read it immediately. I’m here to support him in everything he does,” he said.
The crowd, undeterred by negative reviews, seemed more focused on issues Bardella champions—rising gang violence and immigration. For many, these topics are deeply personal. Eric Berthelot, an 18-year-old from a tough Paris suburb, shared his frustrations. Growing up in a neighborhood plagued by crime, Berthelot recalled a tragic incident when a friend was killed in a gang-related stabbing. “France welcomes all the misery of the world,” he said, “but those who come here don’t respect our culture. They want to destroy our country, and that’s not acceptable.”
Louis de Lassagne, a 19-year-old student from a wealthy town outside Paris, expressed similar concerns about crime, referencing the murder of Philippine, a 19-year-old woman allegedly killed by a Moroccan man due for deportation. Bardella and the National Rally (RN) seized on this incident to fuel their calls for stricter immigration and crime policies.
Bardella often cites his childhood in the multi-ethnic, impoverished Seine-Saint-Denis area as pivotal in shaping his political views. Ismael Habri, a 27-year-old janitor sporting a TRUMP badge, echoed Bardella’s sentiments. “I know the ghetto well, so I understand Bardella. France needs hope. France needs to regain its sovereignty.”
For many in the crowd, Bardella represents a solution to the fears and frustrations of their daily lives, particularly as they grapple with the challenges of crime, immigration, and cultural change.