Valérie Hayer financed by American companies? Jordan Bardella’s deceptive attack

POLITICS – It’s the story of a counter-Kem’s that flops. This Thursday, May 2, during the debate between him and Valérie Hayer in the European elections, Jordan Bardella accused the presidential candidate of being financed by American tech giants. And therefore to be at the mercy of Atlanticist interests contrary to those of France.

“ Your campaign is financed by ALDE (Alliance of Democrats and Liberals for Europe, Editor’s note), the European political party which finances your campaign is financed by Microsoft, Amazon, Meta… “, attacked the president of the RN on BFMTV, before driving the point home: ” I don’t receive funding from big American companies “.

If we clearly understand the purpose of the maneuver, aimed at putting into perspective the trial of Russophilia against the RN, several of which campaigns were financed from Russia in the wake of pro-Putin positions expressed many times by Marine Le Pen, Jordan Bardella has disregards precision and accuracy in its counter-offensive.

Why is it a lie

As the site specializing in European news quickly noted EURACTIVthe attack does not hold, because neither Valérie Hayer nor any Renaissance MEP belong to the ALDE, even if this group sits in the European Parliament within the Renew group, chaired by the head of the presidential camp’s list.

However, it is indeed the ALDE that is in question in Jordan Bardella’s argument, since he held up the annual declaration of donations, on which we see that in fact this formation received 18,000 euros from of Microsoft or Amazon in 2023. However, this does not mean that these American tech giants are financing Valérie Hayer’s campaign because not only is she not a member of this formation, but above all because the Macronists are opposed in 2019 this type of private financing to which their European allies subscribed.

Unsurprisingly, the far-right party therefore finds itself accused of having relayed fake news. “ The National Rally still struggles with campaign financing. We are not members of the ALDE and we have always been opposed to corporate funding of parties. Our campaign is financed by our national parties,” replied Valérie Hayer’s campaign director, Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade.

Furthermore, we will remind you for all intents and purposes that the financing of electoral campaigns by companies is prohibited in France. Which Jordan Bardella pretends to ignore.

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