France’s National Rally Elects Young Le Pen Protege as New Party Chief

French right leader Marine Le Pen celebrates with newly elected leader of the National Rally president Jordan Bardella during the party congress in Paris, on Nov. 5, 2022. Lewis Joly/AP Photo

European lawmaker Jordan Bardella replaced his mentor Marine Le Pen on Saturday at the helm of France’s leading right-wing party, pledging to protect French civilization from perceived threats posed by mass illegal immigration.

Bardella, 27, won an internal party vote with 85 percent support, marking a symbolic changing of the guard at the resurgent National Rally party. He is the first person to lead the party who doesn’t have the Le Pen name since it was founded a half-century ago.