Le Pen keeps Farage hanging over his Paris rendezvous
The two right-wing leaders were meant to meet in October — but the dynamics in both their parties have shifted.
Nigel Farage has been promoting a meeting with French presidential contender Marine Le Pen in Paris, but Le Pen's camp has yet to confirm any arrangements. Four officials close to Le Pen, speaking on condition of anonymity, told POLITICO that no such meeting is scheduled before Christmas. While Le Pen remains the favorite to win the first round of the 2027 presidential election, recent developments have shifted both Reform UK and the National Rally's agendas.
The far-right leader's second-in-command, Jordan Bardella, was invited to speak at Reform UK's conference in Birmingham, where Farage unveiled a plan to deport unauthorized migrants back to France. However, the proposal faced backlash in France and led to the resignation of two senior Reform UK aides amid financial concerns. Reform UK's support has since dropped, with the Conservative Party gaining ground.
Le Pen's camp has questioned the necessity of associating with Farage, considering Brexit remains a sensitive issue in France. The migration deal signed between Bardella and Farage is seen as ready for implementation, but there are no plans for further meetings before the U.K. elections.
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