Jordan Bardella’s lawyer accuses European Parliament of 'paranoia' over far-right staffer

LUXEMBOURG — The European Parliament has “paranoia” when it comes to the far-right, Jordan Bardella’s lawyer claimed as his client fights to keep his right-hand man on the EU payroll.

Bardella took the Parliament to the EU’s General Court over its decision to stop François Paradol from working as a part-time MEP assistant, although the president of France’s far-right National Rally was not present in court on Wednesday.

Paradol, Bardella’s chief of staff, used to work as his part-time local MEP assistant in France. But in 2024, the Parliament turned down his reappointment in the wake of a case involving Bardella’s mentor, Marine Le Pen. She was found guilty of embezzling cash meant for MEPs from 2004 to 2016, and using the money to pay for national party staff.

Bardella’s lawyer, David Dassa-Le Deist, told the court the decision was taken because of “prejudice” against far-right parties such as the National Rally. “There is a paranoia within the Parliament about the members who work for the far-right,” Dassa-Le Deist said.

Bardella had proposed that Paradol work every Monday to Thursday morning as a parliamentary assistant, with the rest of his time set aside for national party work. The Parliament said no, claiming it would be near-impossible for Paradol to separate his duties.

The Parliament’s lawyer, Lavinia Darie, backed up that decision Wednesday, saying Paradol’s National Rally job would mean him being available “around the clock.” She also disputed whether Paradol could decline to perform National Rally tasks for Bardella when he was supposed to be working as an MEP assistant.

She added that the case involving Le Pen showed there was a “high risk of abuse of funds” in Bardella’s case. The National Rally is on course to win next year’s French election. If Le Pen becomes president, Bardella could well be her prime minister.

Dassa-Le Deist said the rejection was unfair given hybrid working situations are “not prohibited,” adding that the “very competent” Paradol had been working with Bardella “for a very long time” and “knew how to carry out both of these roles.”

Judge Heikki Kanninen asked the Parliament’s lawyer whether they would have made the same decision if it involved an MEP from a different party.

“Such a case — for everyone — would have been refused independent of which member, which political group, or which nationality put this request forward,” Darie said. “It’s the duty of the officer to respect the good management of public funds.”

The case could have ramifications for MEPs’ ability to choose their own staffers. Paradol told POLITICO last year that by blocking his appointment, the Parliament was attempting to “turn every political aide into a European civil servant.”

Judges didn’t confirm when a decision can be expected, but the court usually takes a few months to make a ruling.