Gérald Darmanin, France's Minister of Justice, has voiced significant concerns regarding the chances of Édouard Philippe securing a spot in the second round of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on BFMTV/RMC, Darmanin described the situation as dangerous for both the candidate and the right-wing coalition, noting that Philippe is not fully capable of qualifying despite having garnered numerous endorsements since the competition began.
Although Darmanin has supported Philippe since mid-August, his backing remains cautious given the candidate's recent struggles in polling data. A survey conducted by Ifop-Fiducial for Le Figaro, Sud Radio, and LCI, published on October 20, revealed that Philippe's support dropped by six points over a three-week period. Darmanin emphasized this decline, stating bluntly that Philippe's inability to reach the runoff poses a serious threat.
Regarding the possibility of holding a primary election to unify the center-right vote, Darmanin stated there is no longer time for such a process with only 200 days remaining until the election. He noted that while a primary was once considered, it was rejected by all parties at the time. This stance aligns with Philippe, who recently appeared on TF1's "20 Heures" to reject the idea of a primary, calling it a source of division and confusion.
Darmanin called for unity behind Édouard Philippe while criticizing other contenders from the Renaissance and Les Républicains parties. Specifically, he argued that Gabriel Attal and Bruno Retailleau are not capable of qualifying for the second round, reinforcing his position that rallying around Philippe is the only viable strategy for the upcoming election.
Sources: Le Figaro.