Sébastien Chenu is at ease. The very select Cercle de l’Union interalliée, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, welcomes many beautiful people this November evening. Glass of champagne in hand, he chats with the former president of Medef Pierre Gattaz, greets the former Macronist minister Muriel Pénicaud, and talks to the boss of Thalès. Today, the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor is being presented to Ross McInnes, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Safran, and “old friend” of Sébastien Chenu, who naturally invited him. The elected official is the only representative of the National Rally, but his presence does not weaken the assembly, which brings together the best that Paris produces in the political and entrepreneurial world. This may be a detail for you. But Marine Le Pen’s lieutenant in the National Assembly notes: this is the first time he has been invited to such an event.
However, this is not the first time that the Cercle, temple of the Parisian elite, has welcomed elected officials from the far-right party. January 2022, Marine Le Pen is received in the Golden Rooms to present her economic program. The experiment will be repeated. The president of the Interallied Union, Denis de Kergorlay, even happened to pop in at one of these feasts. To see. It is Sophie de Menthon, member of the Circle and president of the employers’ organization Ethic, who issues the invitations. She likes Marine Le Pen, finds her “intelligent” and repeats to her network that the RN makes “efforts, a lot of efforts on economic issues”. She is one of those members of the “middle” who serve as go-betweens for the lepenists. Opens access for them, facilitates meetings for them.
Matchmakers
A Thursday morning just a stone’s throw from Les Invalides. Sophie de Menthon has her habits at the Café de l’Esplanade. Suddenly, a fly bites her. She picks up her phone to call Benoît Santoire, president of the National Chamber of Justice Commissioners.
“Dear Benoît, hello, I was thinking of something… Have you sent your proposal to the groups of the National Assembly, to the RN in particular?
[Silence surpris, réponse urbaine]
– Ah, no I hadn’t thought about that, but I take note that I need to contact them, thank you.
– Absolutely, and contact them on my behalf!”
When we can be of service…
The frontist deputies have gotten used to it. Now, for some time now, worldly people have opened their arms to them. And even more so since the dissolution and the legislative elections in the summer of 2024. Thomas Ménage, RN deputy for Loiret, was invited several times to these dinners, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Once with the boss of Total, another with that of EDF. One day, during a conversation, he was asked to co-opt him to join the “Circle”. “You understand, we need RN deputies, but not just anyone…” comments his interlocutor. Go for frontists in our ranks, as long as they are handpicked. Open a window without compromising yourself. This is the new dilemma for the capital’s power circles since more than a hundred RN deputies took over the National Assembly.
Parisian circles and local bourgeoisie
On February 15, Jordan Bardella entered the salons of the Union Interalliée, this time at the invitation of the Freemasons. The French National Grand Lodge (GLNF) receives him for lunch. Price to pay: 85 euros, all inclusive, to exchange with the president of the RN. Current issues will be discussed in an atmosphere of camaraderie, almost making us forget that a few decades ago, the same party called for the disappearance of the institution.
Because the RN has come a long way. Like its representatives, long considered outcasts and excluded, in fact, from anything that could even remotely resemble the gatherings of Parisian elites. But it seems that those days are over.
According to the frontists, the shift would even affect Le Siècle, an eminent Parisian club bringing together bosses, politicians, figures from the world of culture, and where certain members would now assume to vote Marine Le Pen. No visible support, of course, but meetings, under the radar. Former ministers and big bosses who are members of the institution contact Sébastien Chenu to request a lunch with Jean-Marie Le Pen’s daughter. The deputy from the North, known for occupying the role of social intermediary with the boss, has been increasing the number of confidential dinners for a long time, intended to allow them to slip their foot in the door. In September, he was received by the investment banker Philippe Villin, alongside the president of Medef Patrick Martin. One example among others.
This decompartmentalization is also observed at the local level. Since 2022, many RN deputies have noticed a change in outlook and attitude among the circles of notables in their constituency towards them. Happy coincidence, it is precisely this lower middle class that the far-right party is eyeing to make progress in the next elections.
Progressive decompartmentalization and political deals
Stop in the Loiret. The habit was born several months ago. Thomas Ménage is often invited to “apartment dinners”. The first took place in 2022, after his first election as a deputy. A small group of doctors, lawyers and auctioneers first invited him to an aperitif dinner. Just to test the waters. Some former LR, other Zemmourists, eager to sniff out the beast and, above all, looking for pledges. The graft takes. Word of mouth is spreading, dinners are multiplying and the decompartmentalization often works through professional circles.
Recently, Thomas Ménage met with an entire medical practice in private. When they are fruitful, discussions even lead to agreements. Several guests will be candidates on RN lists during the municipal elections of 2026. Sometimes, the repercussions go beyond just one’s constituency. By breaking bread with the local petty bourgeoisie, the RN deputy attracted the attention of Pierre Martinet, CEO of the company of the same name, who traveled from Lyon on October 19 to show his factory. to the Lepenist parliamentarian.
An extra step
Detour to the South this time. September 2023, the Cannes Yachting Festival is in full swing on the Côte d’Azur. And carries with it a public as well-off as it is uniform, far from the image of the frontist electorate. However, this is where we find, in full discussion with the Federation of Nautical Industries, Bryan Masson and Alexandra Masson, RN deputies. It must be said that the latter is a specialist in posh gatherings. And all the fights. Here she is, one evening, received with great fanfare within AS Monaco. The next day, delivering the Lions Club governor’s handover speech in Menton. The day before, guest of honor at the French Riviera hospital’s charity evening. In the South, the barriers have been broken down a long time ago, and the RN is no longer persona non grata in social circles. Alexandra Masson also regularly lunches with representatives of the French National Grand Lodge who, according to her, have always been very courteous towards her. With the Grand Orient de France (GODF), she recognizes that it remains “complicated”. But maybe it’s just a matter of time.
For now, RN deputies are getting used to this new state: that of being tolerated in good society. Even if it means being the subject of a new curiosity, of an interested approach. This is better than the pariah status that was reserved for them until now. And it is always an additional step taken towards their quest for power. In fifty-two years of existence, the far-right party, if it has not reread La Fontaine, has retained one maxim: one hold is better than two you will have.
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