Le Pen has said that if her appeal succeeds, she will run for the presidency, while the 30-year-old Bardella remains the far-right party’s plan B. However, Le Pen has appeared to lose some of her fighting spirit in recent months.
In an interview with POLITICO published Monday, the current leader and MEP signaled a softer approach to foreign affairs compared to Le Pen’s, while maintaining the National Rally party’s criticism of Brussels’ institutions.
“We do not wish to leave the European Union,” Bardella said. “We wish to change everything without destroying anything.”
Asked whether he still wanted to withdraw from NATO’s integrated command, he explained: “We are not in favor of leaving NATO … We do not wish to leave the integrated command as long as there is war at Europe’s doorstep.”
On Ukraine, however, he echoed positions taken by several other European far-right parties, saying he opposes deploying French troops unless they are part of a peacekeeping mission.
Asked whether he would welcome an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, as former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did, Bardella replied: “The support I’m seeking, and the support we’re seeking with Marine Le Pen, is the support of the French people, the support of French voters.”