France is witnessing a dramatic reshaping of its political landscape as new faces and bold proposals capture public attention. Recent polling and public statements have thrust two young political figures—Jordan Bardella and Sarkozy junior—into the spotlight, each representing different wings of the French political spectrum and offering distinct visions for the country’s future.
According to a survey conducted by French pollster Odoxa on November 19 and 20, 2025, the 30-year-old leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, is now the clear favorite to win the French presidential election scheduled for 2027. The poll, which surveyed 1,000 people, predicts that Bardella would triumph over any opponent if the election were held this week. The findings mark a significant moment for Bardella, who has rapidly ascended to the top of his party and the national stage, surpassing even his mentor, Marine Le Pen, in popularity.
“Unfortunately for Jordan Bardella and his supporters, and fortunately for everyone else, being the overwhelming favourite in a presidential election several months before it takes place is no guarantee of success,” Odoxa noted in its report accompanying the poll results. This cautionary note is rooted in history: both Marine Le Pen and her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, previously led the National Rally (formerly the Front National) to the second round of presidential elections, only to be defeated by broad political alliances intent on blocking the far-right from power.
Bardella’s rise comes at a time of significant upheaval for French politics. Marine Le Pen, aged 57, was barred from seeking public office for five years in March 2025 after a court found her and some party members guilty of misappropriation of funds. She has appealed the ruling, but the ban has left Bardella as the party’s natural candidate for the presidency if her appeal is unsuccessful. The Odoxa poll tested Bardella against several potential rivals, including far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, moderate leftist Raphaël Glucksmann, and centrist former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe.
The results were striking. In a hypothetical second-round faceoff, Bardella would defeat Mélenchon with a resounding 74% of the vote, and edge out Philippe with 53%. The poll’s margin of error was 2.5 percentage points. These numbers are especially notable given that, earlier in November, another poll showed Bardella narrowly losing to Philippe in a runoff—suggesting a rapid shift in public sentiment. Depending on his opponents in the first round, Bardella would receive either 35% or 36% of the votes, Odoxa reported, and would win against any candidate advancing to the second round.
The poll also reflects the broader decline of President Emmanuel Macron’s political influence. Macron’s decision to call a general election in mid-2024 resulted in a hung parliament and a paralyzed government, eroding the popularity of his political heirs and leaving the center ground vulnerable. The inability of Macron’s camp to form a stable coalition has opened the door for both far-right and far-left challengers to gain traction.
While Bardella’s surge is making waves at the national level, another young political figure is stirring debate with provocative ideas about French identity and social integration. Sarkozy junior, the 28-year-old son of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, has returned to France after spending most of his life in the United States. He has announced plans to run in the 2026 mayoral election for the small, lemon-producing town of Menton in south-east France.
In a recent interview with RMC radio, Sarkozy junior advocated for a dramatic overhaul of France’s approach to military service. He proposed that military service should be voluntary for most citizens but compulsory for criminals and some immigrants. “Why not introduce a lottery—say 10 percent—whereby all new legal immigrants would be obliged to serve in the army?” Sarkozy suggested. “Firstly, this would act as a clear deterrent: many would hesitate to join us for fear of having to serve in uniform. Secondly, it would guarantee us a solid vector for assimilation.”
His comments have sparked intense discussion. Sarkozy did not specify what he meant by ‘new’ immigrants, nor did he clarify whether his plan would distinguish between European Union and non-EU citizens or address issues such as age, disability, or medical conditions. Drawing on historical precedent, Sarkozy cited Lyautey’s 1891 treatise ‘Le rôle social de l’officier’ (“the social role of an officer”), arguing, “He explained that the army is the great school of the nation, the place where workers and students, believers and atheists, rural and urban dwellers come together. When you put everyone in uniform, there are no clans, no Muslims or Christians, no categories. There’s still one nation.”
It’s important to note that even if Sarkozy junior were to succeed in his mayoral bid, he would not have the authority to implement such changes on his own. Nonetheless, his proposals arrive amid a broader national conversation about the potential return of voluntary military service in France. At present, only French citizens are eligible to join the French armed forces, with the notable exception of the French Foreign Legion. The Legion, a storied unit with a reputation for toughness and camaraderie, accepts non-French citizens and plays a key role in both overseas operations and domestic security missions, such as Operation Sentinelle, which protects potential targets of terrorism like train stations and tourist sites.
Foreigners who serve five years in the Legion, or who complete two years and are injured in the line of duty, can apply for French citizenship—a unique pathway to integration that stands apart from Sarkozy junior’s proposed lottery. The Legion’s tradition of blending diverse backgrounds into a single fighting force echoes some of the assimilationist ideals Sarkozy referenced, but without the element of compulsion for immigrants.
France’s political climate is, in short, in flux. The far-right, under Bardella’s energetic leadership, is riding a wave of public dissatisfaction with the status quo, while more traditional parties struggle to regain their footing. At the same time, the re-emergence of military service as a topic of debate—whether as a tool for assimilation or a means of national unity—reflects deeper questions about what it means to be French in a rapidly changing society.
As the 2027 presidential election draws closer, and as new political actors like Bardella and Sarkozy junior step into the arena, France faces a pivotal moment. The choices made by voters and policymakers over the next two years will shape not only the country’s leadership, but also its approach to identity, integration, and the enduring tension between tradition and change.
