The French party leader of the far-right party National Rally (NR), Jordan Bardella, cancelled his planned speech at the CPAC conference after right-wing strategist Steve Bannon made a "gesture that alluded to Nazi ideology".
CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) brings together many of the far-right forces on the American political arena, several of whom are also close to President Donald Trump. One of them is Steve Bannon, who was titled as chief strategist during Trump's first term.
The controversy revolves around the gesture Bannon made on Thursday, a marking that was similar to the one used by Nazis in Germany and fascists in Italy as a greeting, among other things.
Right-wing party leader Bardella was not present when Bannon stretched out his arm in a straight gesture, while urging the audience to "fight, fight, fight".
In a comment to a journalist at the French Le Point, Bannon denies that it was a Nazi greeting, and says that Bardella is not a worthy future French leader.
I want to be quoted: He's a little boy, not a man. Only strong men and women can lead France, says Bannon in a video clip.
The 29-year-old Bardella has taken over the leadership after Marine Le Pen in the French far-right party NR.
Previously, President Trump's close adviser Elon Musk has been criticized for a similar gesture.
