On May 28, 2026, French media reported that a deputy from the far-right National Rally (RN) party suggested that a close advisor to party leader Jordan Bardella may have been unaware of the nature of a lunch meeting with a known Russian propagandist. The deputy, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, 'Perhaps it was without his full knowledge,' referring to the advisor's presence at the event.
The lunch, which took place in Paris earlier this month, involved a journalist identified by French intelligence as a propagandist for the Russian government. The RN has faced scrutiny over its ties to Russia, with critics accusing the party of being too sympathetic to Moscow. Bardella has denied any wrongdoing, stating that his advisor attended the lunch in a personal capacity.
French authorities have not commented on the incident, but the story has reignited debates about foreign influence in French politics. The RN has previously faced allegations of receiving funding from Russian sources, which the party denies. As of now, no formal investigation has been announced.
