French Far-Right Party Withdraws Support for Dunkirk Mayoral Candidate
Dunkerque, France – The National Rally (RN) has withdrawn its endorsement of Adrien Nave, its candidate in the upcoming Dunkirk mayoral election, just two weeks before the first round of voting on March 15. The decision, announced Sunday, stems from the inclusion of Antoine La Scola, a spokesperson for the far-right royalist movement Action Française, on Nave’s candidate list.
The RN stated that Nave had “disrespected” the conditions of his endorsement, which he had “accepted without reservation.” According to Sébastien Chenu, a vice-president of the RN, the submitted list differed from the one initially presented, revealing a “deliberate concealment.”
“Antoine La Scola, known on social media as Antoine Grosjean, identifies as a spokesperson for Action Française, a far-right movement distant from the values espoused by the National Rally,” Chenu said in a statement.
The RN also alleges that Maxence Accart, a departmental delegate for the party in the Flanders region, was removed from the final list submitted to the Dunkirk sub-prefecture, calling it a “betrayal.” Nave faces a disciplinary hearing and potential expulsion from the party as a result.
Nave, a member of the regional council of Hauts-de-France, was not immediately available for comment.
This incident marks the second time in February that the RN has withdrawn support from a candidate. Earlier this month, the party revoked its endorsement of Christian Richaud Simoni in Carpentras, following the revelation of racist and sexist tweets.
The French municipal elections are being closely watched as a barometer of national political sentiment ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The RN, led by Marine Le Pen, has been seeking to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base, and these recent controversies raise questions about the party’s vetting process and its ability to maintain a unified message.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
