French far-right party elects new leader to replace Le Pen

Newly elected chief of the National Rally Jordan Bardella (Lewis Joly/AP)

Jordan Bardella has replaced his mentor Marine Le Pen at the helm of France’s leading far-right party, and pledged to defend French civilization from perceived threats posed by immigration.

Mr Bardella, 27, won an internal party vote with 85% support, marking a symbolic changing of the guard at the resurgent National Rally party.