 "France's far-right leader Jordan Bardella cancels CPAC speech after Trump loyalist performed 'Nazi salute'")
France’s far-right leader Jordan Bardella said that he had cancelled his planned speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington after Conservative firebrand Steve Banon appeared to be performing a “ Nazi Salute ” at the event. The president of France’s National Rally (RN) party made it clear that he was not present when Bannon made the fascist-style gesture.
“Yesterday, while I was not present in the room, one of the speakers out of provocation allowed himself a gesture alluding to Nazi ideology. I therefore took the immediate decision to cancel my speech that had been scheduled this afternoon,” Bardella said in a statement on Friday.
Near the end of his address at the event, Bannon briefly held out a stiff arm while suggesting that Trump could pursue a constitutionally prohibited third term , calling on the audience to “fight, fight, fight”. On Friday, Bannon denied that he performed a fascist salute and told a French journalist that it was a “wave to the crowd”.
Bannon called Bardella a ‘wimp’
While speaking to a journalist from a French news outlet called Le Point, Bannon said that Bardella would be “a wimp” if he cancelled his appearance over the gesture. “If he’s that worried about it … then he is unworthy and will never lead France,” Bannon exclaimed.
It is important to note that the Conservative political strategist’s recent gesture, resembled the one made by tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk last month that was widely compared to a Nazi salute. Bannon, who used to be a Trump strategist and right-wing media executive, served four months of prison sentence last year after he defied a Congressional subpoena.
At that time, he was asked to testify about the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol. Bardella , 29, took over as the president of RN in 2022 from veteran French politician Marine Le Pen. He also led the Patriots group in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, Le Pen continues to remain the leader of the party in the French parliament. She has been the runner-up in the last two French presidential elections and is expected to make the next presidential run in 2027.
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