Le Pen keeps Farage hanging over his Paris rendezvous

LONDON — Nigel Farage has been hyping up a visit to see Marine Le Pen in Paris. But the French presidential hopeful is keeping her embattled right-wing ally waiting. The Reform UK leader’s jaunt to France had been billed for October, as a key part of a tour of leaders on the European right before the year is over.

But four officials in Le Pen’s National Rally with knowledge of her schedule, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive party relations, have told POLITICO that a visit to the party president is still not scheduled. Several figures in the far-right party said there was no urgency in refocusing media attention on relations with Reform or on a migration deal signed in September . One of the people cited above said that “the costs and benefits” of a Farage visit needed weighing up.

Le Pen remains favorite to win the first round of France’s 2027 presidential election — but much has changed for both Reform and the National Rally since Farage’s officials first pitched the visit.