Le Pen Pushes Protege Aside to Assert Control

“The uncomfortable partnership between Marine Le Pen and her protege Jordan Bardella at the top of France’s largest political party is unraveling as the presidential campaign kicks into gear,” Bloomberg reports.

“Le Pen has reasserted her hold on the National Rally party her late father founded in 1972 since courts in July cleared her to run for the highest office. Differences over policy and style they brushed aside as she fought the fallout of an embezzlement conviction are increasingly emerging in public view.”

“The economic blueprint Le Pen announced Tuesday shows how the 31-year-old Bardella and his pro-business agenda have been shunted to the background behind Le Pen’s populist priorities.”