The two right-wing leaders were meant to meet in October — but the dynamics in both their parties have shifted.
LONDON — Nigel Farage has been hyping up a visit to see Marine Le Pen in Paris. But the French presidential hopeful is keeping her embattled right-wing ally waiting.
The Reform UK leader’s jaunt to France had been billed for October, as a key part of a tour of leaders on the European right before the year is over.
But four officials in Le Pen’s National Rally with knowledge of her schedule, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive party relations, have told POLITICO that a visit to the party president is still not scheduled.
Several figures in the far-right party said there was no urgency in refocusing media attention on relations with Reform or on a migration deal signed in September. One of the people cited above said that “the costs and benefits” of a Farage visit needed weighing up.
Le Pen remains favorite to win the first round of France’s 2027 presidential election — but much has changed for both Reform and the National Rally since Farage’s officials first pitched the visit.
Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s second-in-command, was the star guest at the British right-wing party’s conference in Birmingham at the start of September. Bardella and Farage unveiled an agreement to deport back to France all migrants who make unauthorized crossings of the English Channel in small boats.
But the plan provoked a backlash in France, as politicians across the spectrum questioned quite why the country would accept asylum seekers back.
Further trouble struck Reform in Birmingham too. At that point polling still had Reform within touching distance of the governing Labour Party — despite the more popular Andy Burnham taking over as prime minister from Keir Starmer.
Then an undercover investigation broadcast on the eve of conference raised fresh questions about Reform’s finances and led to the resignations of two of Farage’s most senior aides. Labour’s polling numbers have since improved, while Reform is being challenged for second place by an uptick in support for the Conservative Party.
It was at that same conference in early September that Reform first told POLITICO Farage would be heading to France to meet Le Pen by the end of October.
Farage also alluded to a trip to Paris after Bardella’s English-language speech, saying: “The only downside is I think they’re going to invite me to go to Paris and I’ll have to speak in French, but never mind, we’ll get there.”
Confirmation of the invite never materialized — and as October drew to a close and it became apparent Farage wouldn’t get treated to a reciprocal appearance at the National Rally’s conference in Orléans, a senior Reform official said: “It’s in [the] diary for this year.”
That timeline still isn’t recognized in Paris. The four anonymous National Rally officials with knowledge of Le Pen’s plans said they are not aware of any Farage visit scheduled before Christmas.
One of them, a Le Pen aide, suggested Farage may instead be offered a meeting with Bardella, whose stock in the party has suffered a series of blows in recent months.
Another adviser to Le Pen questioned the pros and cons of the party president associating herself with Farage.
“We’d need to spend a bit more time thinking through the costs and benefits,” they said.
Thibaut Francois, an official with the National Rally’s delegation to the European Parliament, said that there are “regular contacts” with Reform and that the two parties would meet “very soon.” But he would not say whether such a meeting would go ahead this year.
“Reform’s prime goal is getting battle-ready for the U.K. elections and swanning around internationally is not going to be any help right now to the message to the U.K.,” a senior official in Reform said.
Charles-Henri Gallois, Bardella’s economic adviser, also downplayed the need for any further meetings between the two parties — arguing their migration deal is “ready and set to be implemented” if both parties make it to power.
“There’s no need to discuss it further,” he told POLITICO. “Anyone who criticizes the agreement does not understand migration flows. The agreement is entirely beneficial to France.”
Bardella’s man?
Le Pen has spent years trying to distance herself from moves to pull France out of the European Union, wary that the suggestion of a Brexit-style split spooks French voters.
“Farage still supports Brexit, whereas she has abandoned [Frexit], as it’s too frightening for French voters,” said far-right expert Jean-Yves Camus, from the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, a think tank. “And the recent defeat of Donald Trump in the midterms will reinforce Le Pen’s mistrust of Trumpism and all his lookalikes in Europe.”
The migration deal was signed between Bardella and Farage, and at the time, there were already doubts about the level of backing inside the National Rally for the deal.
Since Reform’s party conference in September, Bardella’s star has further waned following antisemitism allegations, which he has vigorously rejected.
Ahead of the Farage-Bardella deal, Farage bullishly proposed launching the “largest military operation in the English Channel since World War II” to return small boats to French shores.
“Why [send them back] to France if they aren’t French?” one person close to Le Pen told POLITICO at the time.
Spokespeople for Reform and National Rally did not respond to requests for comment.
Sarah Paillou contributed to this report. Clea Caulcutt reported from Paris.