Jordan Bardella, president of France's Rassemblement National (RN), said Sarah Knafo should focus on campaigning for Marine Le Pen's 2027 presidential bid before discussing any future role in government, pushing back on remarks the Reconquete member of the European Parliament made a day earlier.
Speaking on LCI on Thursday, September 3, Knafo did not rule out serving as a minister if Le Pen wins the 2027 presidential election. Asked about the possibility, she replied that she saw no reason not to, adding that she would accept if the government's programme matched her convictions and was aligned with them.
Bardella responded on LCI the following day, speaking from Birmingham in the United Kingdom, where he had appeared alongside Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
Bardella references past primary proposal
Bardella recalled that Knafo had proposed a primary alliance with Edouard Philippe, the former prime minister and founder of the Horizons party, just a few months earlier. He said that if she now wanted to become one of Marine Le Pen's ministers, that represented progress.
He noted, however, that Knafo was not campaigning for Le Pen to reach the Elysee. He said it was rather convenient for Eric Zemmour, since her position suggested she did not expect him to win the election. Before becoming a minister or asking for a ministerial post, he said, she would first need to campaign for Marine Le Pen.
Municipal election alliance recalled
Bardella also pointed to the second round of the 2026 municipal elections in Paris, when Knafo withdrew her candidacy to support Rachida Dati, a minister under President Emmanuel Macron. Dati was ultimately defeated by Emmanuel Gregoire of the Parti Socialiste.
Bardella said the RN was looking for sincere patriots. He added that he had no doubt Knafo was a patriot, but said her push for a primary and an alliance with Edouard Philippe raised questions.
Reconquete, led by Eric Zemmour, and the RN have both positioned themselves on the French far right, though the two parties have repeatedly clashed over strategy and alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential race, in which Bardella is expected to become prime minister should the RN win and any early legislative elections follow a Le Pen victory.
