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The increasing normalization of far-right doctrines in France has reached a considerable point with Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of the National Rally (RN), who actively promotes xenophobic rhetoric, even making appearances on public radio. This tendency has become so ingrained that police officers were reported taking selfies with Bardella, indicating a concerning level of acceptance within certain segments of society.
On Tuesday, February 20, during his campaign for the upcoming European elections in June — which polls indicate will be favourable for Marine Le Pen’s party — Bardella visited Saint-Laurent-du-Var in the Alpes-Maritimes region. There, he was enthusiastically welcomed by officers of the CRS-6 unit, who even awarded him the company medal, an event orchestrated by Commander Jean-Marc Cortes.
This incident, caught in a video posted online by RN deputy for Alpes-Maritimes, Bryan Masson, quickly sparked anger on social networks. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin voiced his dismay upon viewing the footage, leading to an immediate demand for an administrative report and a reminder to prefects concerning the protocols for political visits to law enforcement or detention facilities, emphasizing the necessity of conducting such visits without media presence or subsequent public communication.
Despite the CRS-6 premises not being a detention centre, questions emerge regarding the propriety of Bardella’s visit, particularly considering its timing during an electoral campaign. The officers had reportedly obtained prior approval from the prefect for this visit, raising concerns about the decision-making process and the potential overstepping of boundaries. An inquiry is expected to clarify these matters.
However, the incident echoes more serious issues than just an administrative oversight. The act of police officers formally recognizing a far-right leader symbolizes a significant shift in societal attitudes within France, a nation that prides itself on being the “country of human rights.” This event not only emphasises a concerning tolerance for extreme right ideologies among law enforcement but also signals a broader drift in French society, potentially setting the stage for even greater political shifts in the future.
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