Marine Le Pen, who has long been the standard-bearer of the far-right party and has run for president three times, suffered a severe blow at the end of March when she and around 20 other party representatives for the National Rally were convicted of embezzling EU funds. Her sentence was four years in prison, half of which was suspended, and an immediate ban on running in political elections for the next five years.
Le Pen has appealed the verdict and if it is overturned or changed, she has a chance to run.
But in an interview with Le Parisien, the 29-year-old Bardella, who is considered Le Pen's protégé, gives the clearest indication yet that he would be the National Rally's presidential candidate if she cannot run.
There is no ambiguity that Marine Le Pen is my candidate, but if she were to be prevented from running tomorrow, I think I can say that I would be her candidate, he tells the newspaper.
Le Pen has been the leading favorite ahead of the 2027 election and has seen her best chance yet to win the election, since Emmanuel Macron will then have to step down after his two terms.
