There will be no duel between former heads of government to take over the president’s party. Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal now has free rein to take the helm of the Macronist Renaissance party. Her main competitor, also former Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, in fact threw in the towel on Tuesday October 29 for a “ union application » with Gabriel Attal.
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Two months after announcing his candidacy, Elisabeth Borne chooses to withdraw. “ Division was not an option. We are complementary. That we can come together, show unity, that’s what the activists expect of us », she explained Tuesday on La Chaîne Parlementaire (LCP).
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The former Prime Minister, however, seemed determined in recent weeks, traveling through the party federations and not hesitating to put pressure on her competitor, underlines Victor Willaumejournalist in the political service of RFI. Élisabeth Borne considered that combining the function of president of the group in the National Assembly and that of leader of the party is not “ of use “. In reality, giving up also seems wiser for the one who was nicknamed “ Lady 49.3 “.
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For a large majority of Renaissance party executives, his candidacy was doomed to failure, Gabriel Attal being considered more popular.
“ The end of macronism, and the beginning of “attalism” »
Gabriel Attal thus consolidates his position as first heir, albeit rebellious, ofEmmanuel Macron. He formalized his candidacy for the post of secretary general of Renaissance on Tuesday evening, in a letter to party members. “ Our ambition, with the team that accompanies me and with you, activists, the beating heart of our party, is clear : rebuild a party of ideas, ground and victories », he writes, also paying tribute to Emmanuel Macron, with whom he has been at odds since the dissolution. Thanks to our political family, thanks to the President of the Republic, I had the honor of being elected deputy, of being appointed minister, then Prime Minister. »
The Renaissance Congress is being held in a few weeks, on November 23 and 24. The election of the successor of Stéphane Séjournécandidate for the post of European Commissioner, will be held on December 7. The other possible candidates still have a few days to declare themselves, until Monday, November 4. But it is unlikely that a second list will compete with that of Gabriel Attal.
“ Gabriel Attal and Elisabeth Borne have chosen a candidacy of union and assembly. Neither the situation of our country nor that of our party would support division », Write the two camps in a joint press release. “ If the activists confirm it by their vote, Gabriel Attal will then be the secretary general of Renaissance. Élisabeth Borne will be president of the National Council (a sort of party parliament, editor’s note) ”, according to the text.
The two former Prime Ministers of Emmanuel Macron “are committed to creating the conditions for the widest possible gathering “. Élisabeth Borne would thus continue to have influence internally. The position of president of the National Council, created for the occasion, would allow her to establish a “direct link with parliamentarians and presidents of federations “.
This internal battle which is ending must represent a relief for Gabriel Attal, who has never ruled out ambitions for the 2027 presidential election. This takeover would represent a first step in the race to embody the center camp against Edouard Philippe and Gerald Darmanin.
Founder of En Marche in 2016, which became La République en marche in 2017, Emmanuel Macron is the honorary president of Renaissance, the new name of the party since 2022. “The fact that Attal takes the party and the group definitively marks the end of Macronism, and the beginning of “Attalism” », summarizes support from the former Prime Minister.
(and with AFP)