In the aftermath of the historic breakthrough of the National Rally, during the second round of legislative elections, political scientist Jean-Yves Camus questions their ability to behave constructively in the Assembly. “The new RN parliamentarians will have to prove that they are able to work, to develop legislative proposals that technically hold up”, analyzes the director of the Observatory of political radicalism. For him, the 89 National Rally deputies – including 81 new ones – elected on Sunday in the second round of the legislative elections will have to “professionalize” because the “credibility” of the party is at stake:
Marine Le Pen announced that she “would not take over the presidency” of the RN to devote herself to the party group in the National Assembly. Will this be a platform for her?
With 89 deputies, it is indisputable that there needs to be strong leadership for the group. There has to be someone to set it all to music, to harmonize it all, to ‘pull the cart’. There is a result requirement in this figure of 89 deputies. These members must not have anything other than speaking time and they must not be only opponents.
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The National Rally has a problem, it is its credibility, and Marine Le Pen always bears the brunt of it in the presidential election, so the new parliamentarians will have to prove that they are capable of working, of drawing up legislative proposals which technically hold the road, to try to have them co-signed by parliamentarians who are not part of their group, and that is a challenge because the RN is formed alone. If at the end of the legislature, this party has become more professional, that will be very good for it.
Which parties or elected officials could possibly support RN bills, in your opinion?
Reconquête failed to elect any representative to the National Assembly, but there are a few individuals who may agree to work with the group from time to time, such as Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Emmanuelle Ménard. However, I do not see why the elected Les Républicains who are today in a way the kingmakers would give their support to the RN even though they are the object of intense covetousness on the side of the presidential majority.
Do you think Marine Le Pen will stand for re-election in 2027?
As much as a year ago I thought that Marine Le Pen would present her last candidacy in 2022, I felt in her speech on Sunday evening a tone which seemed to imply that ‘next time will be good’ and I find it hard to think that this does not invigorate her and inspire her to continue by effectively leaving the party in the hands of whoever will be chosen by the party congress. This congress is also very interesting because it introduces an upcoming competition for the leadership of this party. Jordan Bardella may not be the RN’s only presidential candidate. Marine Le Pen will have to keep an eye on both. Whoever will be at the head of the party will have to be in tune with it.