Tensions are mounting within France’s nationalist National Rally (RN) party as the leadership duo of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella faces increasing scrutiny less than three weeks before a crucial court ruling that could determine the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

Marine Le Pen, the seasoned leader of the party and the daughter of its founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, is currently appealing an electoral ban imposed due to the alleged misuse of European Parliament funds. The court is scheduled to issue its decision on July 7. If upheld, the ban could prevent her from running, potentially paving the way for Bardella, the 30-year-old party protégé long positioned as her successor, to lead the RN’s campaign.

However, internal divisions have surfaced, challenging the perception of a united front within the party’s hard-right ranks. Bardella has faced criticism for a series of poorly timed public appearances and controversial remarks, fueling doubts among party members about his readiness to assume leadership. A recent incident at the Monaco Grand Prix heightened these concerns: Bardella was photographed holding a glass accompanied by his wife, Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, while a memorial march took place elsewhere in France for Lyhanna, an 11-year-old murder victim that has drawn nationwide attention. When questioned about the optics on BFM TV, Bardella dismissed the issue, prompting unease within Le Pen’s camp, with some officials describing his response as a misstep and evidence that he risked alienating the party’s working-class base.

Beyond personal misjudgments, substantive policy disagreements have also emerged, notably over pensions—the issue at the core of much debate within the RN. Jean-Marie Le Pen had supported raising the retirement age to 65, eliminating early retirement for certain professions. In contrast, Marine Le Pen built significant voter support by advocating for a return to retirement at 60 for early starters and 62 for most others. Bardella, however, has articulated a more liberal stance, arguing that the retirement age alone is less important than the number of contribution years, and has hinted at introducing voluntary capitalized pension plans—a marked departure from the country’s longstanding pay-as-you-go system revered by many French citizens.

Party insiders acknowledge these differences but maintain that the overall strategic vision remains aligned. Renaud Labaye, secretary-general of the RN group in the National Assembly and close adviser to Le Pen, described the contrasts as variations in style and emphasis influenced by their generational divide rather than fundamental policy rupture.

Political analysts suggest the split between Le Pen and Bardella poses challenges for the RN’s cohesion ahead of the presidential election. Jean-Yves Camus, an expert on France’s hard right, noted that genuine tensions exist behind the party’s public displays of unity. Some former senior party figures warn that maintaining two competing leaders under a single brand is untenable and that internal fractures may deepen as the July ruling approaches.

For now, the RN insists that the leadership relationship is intact, with officials signaling that the outcome of the upcoming court decision will ultimately settle the contest within the party. As France gears up for the 2027 presidential race, the future direction of the National Rally—and which figure will carry its banner—remains uncertain.