After defections, Le Pen's French presidency bid hit by leaks to rival

FILE PHOTO: Marine Le Pen, leader of French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party and candidate for the 2022 French presidential election, reacts during a political campaign rally in Reims, France, February 5, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Marine Le Pen, whose bid for the the French presidency was already in difficulty after a wave of defections, suffered a further blow after her far-right party accused her campaign spokesman of political espionage and suspended him.

In a memo sent to senior party officials, the Rassemblement National alleged Nicolas Bay, an erstwhile Le Pen loyalist and former secretary general of the party, had handed "strategic and confidential" campaign details to far-right rival Eric Zemmour.