Survey on RN voters' views

A survey conducted by the Cluster 17 institute for Marianne found that 87 percent of voters for the National Rally (RN) in France are willing to grant Jordan Bardella, the party's leader, an excuse for antisemitic statements he made when he was 17 years old. The survey was carried out between October 7 and 9, involving a representative sample of 1,271 people.

Public perception of RN

Nearly two-thirds of the French population believe the National Rally promotes racist ideas, and 57 percent think it promotes antisemitic ideas. These views reflect a broader skepticism toward the party's stance on various social and political issues.

Credibility of conflicting accounts

When asked about conflicting accounts of private messages attributed to Jordan Bardella and presented as antisemitic by Mediapart, 56 percent of the French gave more credibility to Mediapart. In contrast, only 18 percent found Bardella's version more credible, highlighting a divide in public opinion.

RN voters' stance

However, 63 percent of RN voters gave more credibility to Jordan Bardella's version of the events. This suggests a significant divide between the general public and the party's supporters regarding the authenticity and interpretation of the messages.

Youth as an excuse

If the messages are authentic, 50 percent of the French believe that being 17 years old at the time does not excuse Bardella’s statements. In contrast, 46 percent of the general public and 87 percent of RN voters consider youth to be a valid excuse. The survey underscores the ongoing negative perception of the RN on these sensitive issues.