Rassemblement national leader Jordan Bardella ruled out any immediate alliance with Bruno Retailleau, the new Republicans head, during a Wednesday evening LCI appearance, defying ally Eric Ciotti's call. Bardella criticized Retailleau's unclear stance on no-confidence motions and his migration policies under Macron. This stance highlights ongoing right-wing tensions despite polls favoring unity.
On LCI on October 15, 2025, Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen's heir at the Rassemblement national (RN), distanced himself from Eric Ciotti's proposal, UDR president, who called for a 'shift in right-wing alliances' toward the nationalist bloc directed at Bruno Retailleau, the new Republicans (LR) leader after his government exit.
Bardella remained inflexible, refusing to extend a hand to the former Interior Minister. He highlights Retailleau's lack of clarity on no-confidence motions against the 'Lecornu 2' government, especially after the Prime Minister's pledge to suspend pension reform. 'Les LR s'apprêtent à se renier sur leurs propres convictions au regard de ce qu'ils ont défendu jusqu'à présent,' he stated, expressing 'compassion' for LR voters feeling 'betrayed'.
The RN leader also questions LR's credibility on pension reform, a 'red line,' and accuses Retailleau of allowing a record 400,000 foreign entries in 2024 as Macron's Interior Minister. 'Pourquoi est-ce qu’aujourd’hui, au moment où l’on se parle, cette alliance n’est pas possible avec l’actuel président des Républicains ? Parce que Monsieur Retailleau a été ministre de l’Intérieur d’Emmanuel Macron,' he pinpointed.
Bardella regrets that Retailleau did not leave the government over political issues like Algeria or the State Medical Aid (AME), but due to ministerial posts. He mocks the Vendéen for sitting alongside socialists like Elisabeth Borne. Nonetheless, Bardella recalls his 2024 coalition with Ciotti and notes 52% of French people favor a right-wing union per an Ifop poll for Valeurs actuelles.
He remains open to alliances in a relative majority scenario post-dissolution but rules out working with Valerie Pecresse or Frederic Jeanbrun, deemed 'Macronized.' In contrast, Marine Le Pen, on France Inter, favors a 'national union' based on national interest, open to patriots from all sides.