National rally leader cancels CPAC speech over salute scandal

Jordan Bardella, leader of the French National Rally (RN), decided to cancel his speech at the CPAC conference in Washington. This decision was in response 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 agency.

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

"Yesterday (Thursday) 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 scheduled for this afternoon," Bardella explained, without 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 with the question of whether they are ready to fight for the president, the republic, and the USA. He urged the gathered crowd not to give up, emphasizing that this is the only way to achieve victory. "You must fight, fight, fight!" Bannon shouted, then made a gesture resembling a Roman salute. He also added: "Amen. God bless you. You are wonderful."

This is not the first time people associated with Trump have made similar gestures. At one event following the inauguration of the new president in January, Elon Musk, a close associate of Trump, made a gesture that also sparked controversy.

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

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