Le Pen keeps Farage hanging over his Paris rendezvous

Marine Le Pen is keeping Nigel Farage waiting, with a planned Paris visit still unscheduled as both far-right parties' circumstances have shifted since the pair's September migration plan.

The meeting was billed for October as part of Farage's tour of European right-wing leaders. Four National Rally officials say it is not scheduled, and one adviser said the "costs and benefits" of associating with Farage needed weighing. The party has no urgency to refocus attention on Reform or on the migration deal signed with Jordan Bardella in September, whose standing has suffered since then.

Reform has been hit by an undercover investigation that raised questions about its finances and led to the resignation of two senior aides. The Conservatives are now challenging it for second place in polls. Le Pen remains the favourite to win the first round of France's 2027 presidential election, according to the article.

Key points

• The Farage visit to Le Pen, billed for October, is still unscheduled, according to four National Rally officials.
• National Rally sources say no Farage visit is planned before Christmas; a Bardella meeting may be offered instead.
• The September deal would return migrants crossing the Channel in small boats to France, sparking backlash there.
• Two senior Reform aides resigned after an undercover investigation into the party's finances.
• Analyst Jean-Yves Camus says Le Pen has abandoned Frexit because it frightens French voters.
• Neither Reform nor National Rally responded to requests for comment.

Why it matters

The stalled meeting shows the strain on cross-Channel far-right ties, with both parties focused on their own elections and reputational problems.