In 2018, the Alexandre Benalla affair shakes up French political life. Aurore Bergé, then spokesperson for the La République en marche group in the National Assembly, publicly takes a stand to defend the executive. Very quickly, rumors circulate on social media, suggesting a private relationship between the two protagonists. No evidence has ever corroborated these rumors, which stem from a common amalgamation between political engagement and personal life.
Rumor Bergé-Benalla: how a political fake news is constructed
Why did this rumor gain so much traction? The mechanism is quite classic. When a political figure vigorously defends a sensitive issue, part of the public seeks a “hidden” explanation for that engagement.
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In the case of Aurore Bergé, her repeated media interventions to downplay the significance of the Benalla affair fueled speculation. No factual evidence has ever supported the existence of a private relationship between the MP and the former collaborator of the Élysée. No photos, no detailed testimonies, no documents. The rumor was born and thrived on social media and certain blogs, without being picked up by recognized investigative media.
A verification effort dedicated to this “fake news” confirmed the total absence of evidence. When looking into the relationship between Aurore Bergé and Benalla, one primarily encounters a textbook case of political disinformation.
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Aurore Bergé facing the Benalla affair: her concrete positions
To understand why Aurore Bergé is systematically associated with this issue, one must return to her public statements. They outline a clear political positioning, not a personal story.
Defense of the executive and criticism of the Senate
In July 2018, at the height of the crisis, Aurore Bergé states on BFM TV that “many false pieces of information” have been said about the affair. She positions herself as a bulwark of the presidential majority.
After Emmanuel Macron’s speech before the majority deputies, she claims to be “even more determined.” This displayed loyalty earns her significant media exposure, which mechanically fuels the amalgamations.
Her criticisms particularly target the Senate inquiry commission, which she considers a “dangerous precedent” in February 2019. For her, the Senate is instrumentalizing the affair for political purposes. This strong position places her at the forefront of defenders of the executive on this issue.
Benalla’s book: a clear distancing
When Alexandre Benalla publishes his book in November 2019, Aurore Bergé shows total disinterest. “I don’t know who is interested in this. I won’t read it,” she declares. This public distancing directly contradicts the thesis of a personal closeness between the two figures.
Aurore Bergé’s political career after the Benalla affair
Her trajectory after this sequence sheds light on the real significance of her positions. If her defense of the executive during the Benalla crisis represented a political risk, the subsequent course of her career would have shown it.
Aurore Bergé is appointed Minister Delegate for Equality between Women and Men and for the Fight against Discrimination. No lasting “political cost” has been associated with her defense of the executive during the Benalla crisis within the presidential majority.
This path illustrates a well-known functioning of French political life:
- loyalty to the parliamentary group and the executive remains a criterion for promotion within the majority, even on controversial issues
- media controversies related to a judicial affair do not necessarily hinder a career, as long as the party line is respected
- the notoriety gained during a crisis, even negative in public opinion, can convert into useful visibility for the future
Benalla affair and disinformation: lessons to be learned
The Benalla affair goes far beyond the case of Aurore Bergé. It remains a reference in analyzing the power dynamics between justice, the presidency, and Parliament in France.
The confusion between political support and private relationship is a recurring mechanism of disinformation. When a political leader exposes themselves on a sensitive issue, social media produces alternative narratives that mix public life and personal life.
Have you ever noticed that this type of rumor more frequently affects female politicians? The Bergé-Benalla case is an illustration of this. Reducing an elected official’s engagement to a supposed romantic relationship amounts to denying her own political legitimacy.
Several reflexes can help avoid falling into the trap:
- Check if a recognized investigative media outlet has reported the information, not just blogs or anonymous accounts
- Distinguish public statements (verifiable, sourced) from assumptions about private life (inherently unverifiable)
- Be wary of narratives that offer a simple and “hidden” explanation for a complex political positioning
The Benalla dossier has generated parliamentary inquiry commissions, judicial proceedings, and constitutional debates. Reducing all this to a couple’s rumor is a shortcut that impoverishes public debate. Analyzing the political interests that a position serves remains more useful than speculating on the private lives of those who express it.