Eric Zemmour, a prominent far-right political figure in France, is expected to announce whether he will run in the 2027 presidential election by December. During a recent visit to a fair in Châlons-en-Champagne, he hinted that he would make his decision before the end of the year, without including his partner, Sarah Knafo, who is the vice-president of his party, Reconquête. Knafo has been publicly urging Zemmour to run, claiming he is the natural choice for the party. Zemmour, however, has shown irritation at her insistence, stating he will decide the timing of his candidacy announcement on his own terms. One of the major hurdles for potential presidential candidates in France is securing 500 endorsements from elected officials. This requirement includes support from at least 30 different departments and can involve deputies, senators, and members of regional or departmental councils. For candidates without a strong base of local elected officials, such as Dominique de Villepin, this can be a significant challenge. Zemmour faced similar difficulties in the 2022 election, where he struggled to meet the endorsement threshold. Fabien Verdier, a former mayor and ex-leader of the Socialist Party (PS), has officially declared his candidacy for the left-wing primary. He aims to represent the interests of rural and smaller communities in France, emphasizing the need for "territorial justice." Verdier left the PS around 2017 and is now seeking to be the sixth candidate in the primary, provided he secures the required endorsements. He previously ran in the 2016 PS primary but failed to collect enough signatures at the time. The French government is preparing to unveil a new aid package for farmers, following a summer of extreme heat that severely impacted agricultural production. Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard will detail the plan during a press conference today. Originally scheduled for Thursday, the announcement was moved up. The government is also working on budgetary measures, including potential freezes or cuts in spending, to fund the aid. Meanwhile, the head of government convened key ministers to discuss these financial strategies. Raphael Glucksmann, the candidate for the PS and Place Publique primary, is set to appear on BFMTV-RMC at 8:30 am. In parallel, the government continues to finalize the 2027 budget plan. The Minister of the Interior, Laurent, is meeting with several police unions today to discuss budget and resource issues, highlighting ongoing efforts to address challenges within the police force.