Édouard Philippe, the Horizons candidate for the 2027 presidential election and mayor of Le Havre, used TF1’s 8pm news on Sunday to reject Gabriel Attal’s proposal for a 'great primary of democrats.' The call from his Renaissance rival came four days earlier, with Attal seeking to avert an LFI-RN second round predicted by polls. Philippe called the idea a 'primary of division and confusion' and predicted it would not take place. According to him, it sought to bring together people who disagree and who have repeatedly said they do not want to work with one another.
The rejection came despite growing support for a primary among figures including former prime minister Michel Barnier, Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé and Île-de-France president Valérie Pécresse. Philippe remained inflexible. He judged the right and center contenders 'all legitimate' and said it was necessary for them to be able to set out what they propose on the issues that matter to the French. But he argued that the sorting out should not happen before the start of the year. 'In February, everyone will take their responsibilities; I am used to taking mine,' he said, appearing to suggest that those less well placed would then have to withdraw.
His refusal is not without risk, because he is no longer in a position of strength. He had been ahead of his rivals in the central bloc but has been slipping in voting intentions for several weeks. According to the report, the cause appears to be the government’s response to the lycée crisis and the shock left by the violence of October 17. He is now relegated behind Jean-Luc Mélenchon, neck-and-neck with Raphaël Glucksmann and far behind Marine Le Pen in almost all configurations tested by polling institutes.
With candidacies currently dispersed among Philippe, Attal, Bruno Retailleau and David Lisnard, there is a fear of a general elimination of the right and center from the first round, which would reduce them to playing the role of arbiters in the second.
Sources: Le Figaro.