European lawmaker Jordan Bardella replaced his mentor Marine Le Pen on Saturday at the helm of France’s leading right-wing party, pledging to protect French civilization from perceived threats posed by mass illegal immigration.
Bardella, 27, won an internal party vote with 85 percent support, marking a symbolic changing of the guard at the resurgent National Rally party. He is the first person to lead the party who doesn’t have the Le Pen name since it was founded a half-century ago.
The National Rally is seeking to capitalize on its recent breakthrough in France’s legislative election and growing support for right-wing and conservative parties in Europe, notably in neighboring Italy. The party is also facing criticism from left-wing opponents over a “Go back to Africa” comment made by lawmaker Grégoire de Fournas, who has since apologized. Fournas had yelled out the comment as a Black lawmaker was speaking on the risks taken by illegal immigrants to reach Europe by sea….