President Emmanuel Macron’s declaration of the dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale on June 9 set the stage for the Rassemblement National (RN) to implement its “Matignon plan,” prepared over two years. Despite setbacks like the shutdown of Campus Héméra and controversial party members, RN president Jordan Bardella remained focused on nominating candidates for the upcoming legislative elections. Macron’s announcement triggered the unveiling of candidates with racist and xenophobic backgrounds, raising concerns within the party.
As the snap parliamentary elections approached, RN leaders hoped to avoid radical candidates gaining prominence. Philippe Olivier emphasized the need for a quality leadership group post-election, despite criticisms of the party’s decision-making process. Olivier defended the approval of certain controversial candidates, highlighting the RN’s aim to diversify its candidate pool.
Imprecise decision-making
Olivier justified the inclusion of candidates with questionable backgrounds as part of creating a new political elite. While facing scrutiny for the party’s candidate selection, he acknowledged the need for improvement in vetting processes.
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