TRUE OR FAKE. Does the Rassemblement National have no connection with the ultra-right?

Jordan Bardella assures, on May 15, on France Inter, that “ultra-right violence has been built against the National Rally (RN)”. This declaration follows a demonstration of the most radical French far-right. In early May, in Paris, activists neo-nazis marched with their faces masked. Jordan Bardella is questioned, because two people linked to this demonstration are close to Marine Le Pen. There is Axel Loustaupresent at the demonstration, and Frederic Chatillonwho was not there, but who said he wanted to be there next year. Both men have long-standing ties to the RNthat recognize Jordan Bardellawhile minimizing their role. “Axel Loustau no longer has commercial relations with our movement since 2017, and Frédéric Chatillon left France”explains the president of the RN.

Axel Loustau was regional councilor until 2021

For Navy Turchijournalist Mediapart, the link with the RN is, on the contrary, always visible. “During the last presidential campaign, the two were 45% shareholders of the communication agency, which did all of Marine Le Pen’s digital communication (…) Axel Loustau was even elected, he was regional councilor until 2021, and treasurer of the micro-party of Marine Le Pen, which is at the heart of the financing of the RN until 2022”.

During Marine Le Pen’s last presidential campaign, a company, including Axel Loustau and Frederic Chatillon are shareholders, received 770,000 euros. “We are not talking about small elected officials, or small activists. We are talking about two people that Marine Le Pen has known since her years Assas. We are talking about people behind the scenes of Marine Le Pen’s campaign”continues the journalist. Interviewed in Le Monde, Marine Le Pen announced that she wanted to distance herself, in particular from Frédéric Chatillonwhich she now claims to no longer be close to.