Bardella and Farage sign migrant return protocol, drawing French political backlash

French political leaders widely criticized National Rally president Jordan Bardella for signing a protocol with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to return illegal migrants crossing the English Channel, should both parties gain power. Minister Benjamin Haddad called the document a "humiliation," while candidates Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned it as contrary to French sovereignty and dignity. Bardella downplayed the controversy, insisting the protocol aims to stop illegal immigration, while Marine Le Pen remained silent. The agreement was signed at Reform UK's London conference amid 16,513 illegal Channel crossings in 2026. However, its implementation is uncertain, as French elections are in 2027, UK elections in 2029, and Le Pen faces a pending criminal appeal.