Malika Sorel breaks away from the RN delegation in the European Parliament, denouncing an authoritarian drift

Less than a year after joining the National Rally (RN) list in the June 2024 European elections, Malika Sorel, an essayist and former public policy advisor, announced her departure from the party’s delegation in the European Parliament. Ranked second on the list led by Jordan Bardella, she denounces an environment she believes is contrary to the spirit of independent thought and intellectual freedom.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, April 19, the MEP explained that she quickly encountered an “oppressive group logic” within the RN delegation in Strasbourg. “I was disappointed. My discomfort grew as I found myself confronted with a system that requires renouncing all freedom of thought,” she wrote.

A clear break with partisan logic

While emphasizing that she has never been a member of the RN, Malika Sorel stated that she had accepted the candidacy in hopes of contributing “usefully to the revival of France.” However, she claims that the group’s priorities quickly overshadowed the exchange of ideas. “The seriousness of the current situation demands that we not submit to partisan logics when they prevent us from working for our country, for our nation,” she added.

Malika Sorel now sits among the non-affiliated members of the European Parliament. While she is still officially listed as part of the “Patriots for Europe” group, her parliamentary profile indicates that she is no longer affiliated with any party.

An atypical and committed career

Known for her strong views on immigration and integration, Malika Sorel previously worked with Dominique de Villepin, Nicolas Sarkozy, and François Fillon. A member of the High Council for Integration under Sarkozy’s presidency, she became known for her critical writings on what she calls “the decomposition of France.”

She joined the RN believing that it was “the only party defending the higher interests of France.” This sudden break now marks a period of political isolation for her, but it also sends a clear message about the limits of commitment within certain partisan frameworks.