EU Parliament denies Jordan Bardella's chief of staff a job amid scandal
- Jordan Bardella's request to recruit his chief of staff as a local parliamentary assistant was denied by the European Parliament.
- This refusal is part of an ongoing scrutiny regarding the misuse of European public funds by political movements.
- The rejection reflects the legal challenges faced by the Rassemblement National and could affect its operations and funding in the European Parliament.
In France, the far-right political party Rassemblement National, led by Jordan Bardella amidst ongoing legal troubles, faced a setback when the European Parliament declined to approve the hiring of his chief of staff as a local parliamentary assistant. This request took place following the party's previous involvement in a trial concerning fake jobs. The European Parliament's decision was communicated to Bardella in a letter, which highlighted the concerns that the Union's resources could potentially be misused in support of a political movement rather than serving the official functions for which they are intended. Bardella, who has been an MEP since 2019, expressed disbelief at the refusal given that his chief of staff, François Paradol, had previously served in this capacity during Bardella's prior term. Paradol, 37, has a long history with the party and holds multiple roles, including serving as a regional adviser and managing the party's communications services. Bardella's intention to renew Paradol's contract coincided with the former's re-election to the European Parliament; however, the request was met with resistance from the institution, which pointed to the substantial additional remuneration that would result from this hiring. The Parliament's letter indicated that Bardella's proposal for a 21.5-hour workweek for Paradol was perceived as inappropriate due to the range and scope of Paradol's duties, which included responsibilities significantly exceeding basic administrative support. This scrutiny arose not only from Bardella's position as the RN's president but also due to overarching concerns regarding the accountability of public funds allocated to political parties, especially following the controversies the party faced in the past. Amidst these developments, other far-right MEPs also encountered similar refusals. The implications of this refusal to hire a parliamentary assistant may lead the Rassemblement National to reconsider its management of parliamentary funds and its administrative structure moving forward, especially in light of ongoing legal issues that could further affect the party’s standing and operational capabilities in the European Parliament.