French leader pulls out of CPAC amid backlash over salute

Jordan Bardella, leader of the French National Rally (RN), decided to cancel his speech at the CPAC conference in Washington. This decision was a reaction to a gesture made by Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Donald Trump, which resembled a Nazi salute. This information was reported by the AFP news agency.

Bardella had planned to deliver a speech on the relations between the USA and France and the strengthening of patriotic parties in Europe. However, in a statement on Friday, he announced that he would withdraw from the event.

"Yesterday (Thursday - editor's note) on this stage, when I was not in the room, one of the speakers provocatively made a gesture referring to Nazi ideology. Therefore, I immediately decided to cancel my speech planned for this afternoon," Bardella explained, not mentioning Bannon by name.

During the first day of the CPAC conference, Steve Bannon, who led Trump's election campaign in 2016, addressed the audience, asking if they were ready to fight for the president, the republic, and the USA. He urged those gathered not to give up, emphasising that only in this way can victory be achieved. "We have to fight, fight, fight!" Bannon shouted, then made a gesture reminiscent of the Roman salute. He also added: "Amen. God bless you. You’re wonderful."

This is not the first time that individuals associated with Trump have made similar gestures. During one of the events accompanying the new president’s inauguration in January, Elon Musk, a close associate of Trump, made a gesture that also sparked controversy.

Neither Jordan Bardella nor the RN faction leader in the National Assembly, Marine Le Pen, were present at Trump’s inauguration on 20 January. Nonetheless, Bardella has repeatedly expressed admiration for the former US president.

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