Le Pen's top ally Bardella faces fresh claims he sought to cover up past anti-Semitic comments

National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella deleted data from a former activist Facebook account as soon as allegations that he made anti-Semitic writings in his youth – which he denies – came to light, according to Le Canard enchaîné, a satirical and investigative weekly. The claims, which Marine Le Pen's party has categorically denied, pile further pressure on the poster boy of the French far right, who is fighting for his political life after allegations he made anti-Semitic comments as a teenager in 2013. Watch moreStill the same far right? Le Pen's National Rally denies fresh anti-Semitism claims Mediapart, which first broke the story, also claimed on Friday to have identified similarities between messages posted on Bardella’s personal Facebook account and others posted on the official X account of the National Rally leader. The allegations threaten to undermine Bardella's defence, days after he claimed he had "no Facebook account" and that he had "not used" the social media platform "for a very long time". Bardella (bottom right) has been at the heart of Le Pen's strategy to "de-demonise" the party. © Julien De Rosa, AFP Le Canard enchaîné said it had got hold of "extracts of ...