France moves to dissolve group run by antisemitic ideologue Alain Soral

France has begun proceedings to dissolve the association founded by French far-right antisemitic essayist Alain Soral, whose ideology has been cited as an influence on numerous far-right leaders. Issued on: 12/10/2026 - 11:51 2 min Reading time The Interior Ministry has confirmed that it is taking steps to dissolve Égalité et réconciliation (Equality and reconciliation), the association founded and headed by Soral, a former member of the National Front, the forerunner of today’s far-right National Rally party, who has been convicted several times for antisemitic and homophobic remarks. According to a letter published by Soral, the French authorities accuse his organisation of “reviving the current of his National Socialist thought, a direct reference to Nazism”. According to the Libération newspaper, which has seen the letter sent to the Égalité et Réconciliation last week, the Interior Ministry describes an association that “promotes ideas tending to justify or encourage discriminatory and hateful rhetoric, and incitement to violence against Jewish people, immigrants, women and the LGBT community”. Soral has used his books and the association’s social media channels, website and other media to spread hateful rhetoric, and he has frequently been cited as a source of inspiration within the manosphere. His name resurfaced at the end of September, when investigative news site Mediapart published new revelations about antisemitic messages attributed to Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, dating from when he was first getting involved in the National Front. Mediapart described Bardella’s “fascination” with Soral. In a 2013 message, Bardella allegedly endorsed Soral's theories, denouncing France’s subservience to Zionist logic. Bardella under pressure as new evidence emerges in antisemitic messages row The dissolution proceedings are currently in a ten-day consultation phase, during which the parties concerned can present their arguments to the ministry. At the end of this period, the ministry will decide whether to submit the dissolution to the Council of Ministers. Soral has himself been convicted over 20 times in France and Switzerland for incitement to hatred, insults and condoning or denying crimes against humanity. In March, he was sentenced in Switzerland to five months in prison for antisemitic and homophobic remarks made on social media between 2023 and 2025. In recent years, he has avoided serving his prison time by going into exile, first in Switzerland in 2019 and then in Russia, where he has been living since February 2026. (with AFP)