Mediapart Confirms Authenticity of Antisemitic Messages Attributed to Bardella

Investigative media outlet Mediapart announced on Thursday that it has authenticated antisemitic messages dating from 2013 and attributed to Jordan Bardella, the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) party. Bardella has formally denied being the author of these messages.

The online newspaper published screenshots of the messages, which were allegedly sent by Bardella to another individual via the Messenger platform in 2013. Mediapart reports that Bardella's conversation partner requested a download of the Messenger conversation from Meta, which was then authenticated by a notary public.

According to Mediapart, biographical details revealed in the conversations by the account user indicate it was the real Jordan Bardella. These include references to his Italian-born mother, an interview he gave to Le Parisien in 2013, and his failure to pass the entrance exam for Sciences Po.

Mediapart also reported that the messages contained statements about Jewish people and Zionism, and expressed admiration for the antisemitic ideologue Alain Soral. Bardella has once again vehemently denied all accusations, calling them "the most ignoble accusation" he has ever faced. There has been no immediate reaction from the Rassemblement National party to Mediapart's latest publications.