Bruno Retailleau said a primary to select a candidate from France’s right and centre for the 2027 presidential election would probably be needed early next year. Speaking on BFMTV on Tuesday, the Republican Party candidate said opinion polls had not clearly separated the contenders, adding that he would continue his campaign if there were no democratic vote to decide between them.
Retailleau pointed to an Ifop poll for LCI published on Tuesday, in which all four candidates in the running were below 10%. He said that, as things stood, none had managed to prevent a potential second-round contest between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
He called for a primary involving the declared candidates Édouard Philippe of Horizons, Gabriel Attal of Renaissance and David Lisnard of Nouvelle Énergie, alongside himself. Philippe has reiterated his opposition to a primary, but Retailleau said he believed the former prime minister would eventually be forced to accept one. Retailleau also ruled out including Raphaël Glucksmann, citing the political differences between the camps.
While awaiting Philippe’s decision, Retailleau proposed holding three debates before the end of the year on different television channels. The discussions would focus respectively on purchasing power, security and state authority, and the environment, giving voters an opportunity to compare the candidates’ positions.
Sources: Le Figaro.