In front of business leaders, Bardella adopts a pro-business stance contrary to Marine Le Pen's socialist economic line.

The president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, set the tone as soon as he arrived at the Medef headquarters on Monday. "I'm not here for an audition," he declared, stating that he was not there to justify himself but to engage in dialogue as an equal with representatives of the business world.

This closely watched luncheon is part of a series of meetings organised by the Medef with key political figures in the run-up to the 2027 presidential election. A few days after a dinner between Marine Le Pen and leaders of the CAC 40, this new sequence confirms the RN's desire to strengthen its ties with the business community.

The leader of the National Rally insisted on his commitment to "freedom of enterprise" and rejected any hostility towards businesses. "I am not left-wing, I am not ashamed of business," he asserted, affirming his desire to place work, production, and purchasing power at the heart of his presidential platform.

A deliberate shift towards the economic world

Beyond the statements, Jordan Bardella also presented the main points of the RN's economic strategy. In a letter addressed to business leaders, he and Marine Le Pen announced the preparation of a vast administrative simplification project, intended to remove regulatory obstacles weighing on the French economy, particularly those stemming from the European framework.

The leader of the National Rally (RN) states that he wants to involve economic stakeholders more closely in the development of his platform. He expects "concrete proposals" from the Medef (French Business Confederation) to support reindustrialization, improve competitiveness, and strengthen economic patriotism in public procurement.

This political development marks a further step in the National Rally's strategy to bolster its economic credibility. It remains to be seen whether this rapprochement with business leaders will resonate beyond its traditional electorate, especially as other political forces also seek to appeal to the business world in the run-up to 2027.