2027 is a long way off, but the next presidential election is already whetting appetites. While outgoing President Emmanuel Macron will not be able to run again after two consecutive terms, several contenders already have their sights set on the deadline, particularly on the right, within the Les Républicains (LR) party.
Among them, Xavier Bertrand. The president of the Hauts-de-France region announced on Saturday in West France that he “fully intended” to run for the 2027 presidential election. “I have not changed my ambition. And I learned from my mistakes,” he assured. And added: “Many today already think that 2027 will be Marine Le Pen’s turn. Not me! I am convinced that there is not a majority of fascists in our country but there is a majority of Angry French people. I intend to respond when the time comes. So no, in 2027, it will not be the turn of the far right.”
In October 2022, Xavier-Bertrand launched his Nous France movement, “a modern, young and unifying movement”, which aims to be resolutely opposed to the far right. The former minister then described himself as “a man of the social right, Gaullist”. In the columns of West France, he explains that he wants to defend a “Republic of territories”, while he denounces a current government that is “too Parisian”. At the end of 2021, the president of the Hauts-de-France region was beaten during the right-wing primaries. With 22.36% of the votes, he finished fourth behind Éric Ciotti (25.59%), Valérie Pécresse (25%) and Michel Barnier (23.93%), but ahead of Philippe Juvin (3.13%).
“Competition, beneficial to the debate of ideas”
Last of the candidates during the last LR primary, Philippe Juvin is no less cooled for the next election. “Why not, of course,” said the Hauts-de-Seine MP on RMC this Sunday, February 4. “I am delighted that at LR, there are people who think differently and competition in terms of ideas is always beneficial to the debate of ideas”, reacted Philippe Juvin about the announcement of Xavier Bertrand’s candidacy .
At the end of 2023, Laurent Wauquiez already announced his desire to be a candidate. “It’s the conquest that no one expects,” confided the president of the Rhône-Alpes region to Parisian in November. “I know what I want, I am ready for the fight,” he added. According to an Ifop-Fiducial survey for Le Figaro published in October 2023, Laurent Wauquiez only obtains 6% of voting intentions in the presidential election. Far behind his right-wing rivals, Edouard Philippe (25%) and Gérald Darmanin (16%), while Marine Le Pen is in the lead (between 31 and 33%).
Outside of LR, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe also spoke about his 2027 candidacy. “There are many who think that the presidential election is far away. […] They are right, but I prepare myself, I do it in a relaxed but serious way,” he explained on the microphone of France blue early January. A candidacy that could be supported by the current Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin. “I think that Edouard Philippe is in the best position today, as I speak to you,” he declared to the media Brut in mid-December, which questioned him about his own presidential ambitions.