Jordan Bardella broke with years of discretion to publicly defend his partner, Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. In an interview on BFMTV on April 29, 2026, the president of the National Rally firmly responded to the criticism surrounding their relationship since it was made public in Paris Match. “You don’t mess with the woman who shares my life,” he declared, drawing a clear line between his political and personal life.
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In brief
—Relationship made public in Paris Match, end of total discretion
—Bruno Retailleau (LR) publicly calls on him to break up
—Bardella invokes “codes of honor” to protect his partner
From total discretion to the cover of Paris Match
For years, Jordan Bardella maintained a strict boundary between his public and private life. To every question about his love life, the president of the National Rally was evasive, refusing to divulge the slightest detail about his relationships.
From Total Discretion to the Cover of Paris Match
Illustrative image © TOPTENPLAY
Everything changed a few weeks ago. To everyone’s surprise, it was in the pages of Paris Match that the politician made his relationship with Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies official. The published photos, the closeness of the two protagonists, and the intensity of their gazes left no doubt about the nature of their relationship.
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This public announcement was not a spontaneous act, but a deliberate decision. Faced with a relentless paparazzi “hound” for several weeks, it had become impossible for the couple to live their relationship peacefully. Making it public thus became the only way to regain control. “We are happy and in love and have no reason to hide,” he stated on BFMTV.
30 years old
Jordan Bardella’s age in 2026 — one of the youngest politicians at this level of responsibility in France, who is now publicly acknowledging his relationship for the first time.
Criticism from within the French right wing
The official announcement of the relationship has not been met with universal enthusiasm. Dissenting voices quickly arose, including within the ranks of the French right wing, where some consider this media spectacle incompatible with the stature of a leading politician.
Criticism from within the French right wing
Illustrative image © TOPTENPLAY
Bruno Retailleau, leader of the Republicans, was particularly direct. He criticized the “celebrity treatment” of this relationship and did not hesitate to suggest that the president of the National Rally should “settle the knot instead,” believing that such a public display of private life was inappropriate for his position.
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Faced with these attacks, Bardella didn’t budge an inch. He dismissed all the criticism with a single word: “jealousy.” A scathing response that illustrates his determination not to let his political opponents interfere in his personal choices.
Who is Princess Maria Carolina?
Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies is a member of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a branch of the Bourbon royal dynasty, heir to the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Naples and Sicily). A European family of ancient nobility, it includes several members active in cultural and humanitarian circles. Her relationship with the president of the National Rally (RN) has raised eyebrows due to the stark contrast between their backgrounds in republican politics and the European aristocracy.
On BFMTV, an unambiguous clarification
It was on the BFMTV set, facing journalist Guillaume Daret, that Jordan Bardella chose to speak out on April 29, 2026. The interview provided him with a platform to respond point by point to the criticisms that have accumulated since his relationship became public.
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On BFMTV, an unambiguous clarification
Illustrative image © TOPTENPLAY
The president of the National Rally (RN) first laid out a principle he considers fundamental: “Just because you share your life with someone doesn’t mean you share their political opinions.” This was a way of cutting short attempts to link Maria Carolina’s positions to those of her partner.
His most direct statement took the form of a clear address to his opponents: “I ask that [Maria Carolina] be respected, and I ask my opponents to leave her alone.” “If there’s something to reproach me for, they tell me directly, but they don’t touch my loved ones, and they don’t touch the woman who shares my life.” These blunt words sum up the leader’s state of mind.
The Brigitte Macron argument: an appeal to “old codes of honor”
To bolster his position, Bardella made an unexpected connection to Brigitte Macron’s situation. Journalist Guillaume Daret had mentioned the First Lady—who had confided in La Tribune the difficulties…
