Jordan Bardella, the leader of the French National Rally (RN), has confirmed he will deliver a speech at the Reform UK party conference in Birmingham next week. Political analysts suggest this move is part of a broader strategy to build international support and visibility for the party ahead of the French presidential election scheduled for next spring.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally, is currently polling strongly and is widely expected to reach the final round of the presidential contest. Her campaign, which officially launched this summer, is occurring alongside ongoing legal challenges. The Guardian reports that a Paris appeal court recently upheld a conviction against Le Pen regarding the embezzlement of over €2.8 million in European Parliament funds.

While the visit highlights the growing cooperation between right-wing populist movements in Europe and the UK, it also draws attention to the legal and political controversies surrounding the National Rally. Bardella’s participation in the Reform UK event serves as a platform to align the two parties on shared priorities, most notably their shared stance on immigration and national sovereignty. The event is expected to draw significant media attention as both parties seek to capitalize on populist sentiment in their respective countries.