Philippe opposes primary election

Édouard Philippe, a candidate from the Horizons party, stated on Sunday that he is against holding a primary election to choose a single candidate from the right and center for the 2027 presidential election. He criticized the idea as one of "division" and "confusion."

Primary proposal comes from Attal

Gabriel Attal, Philippe’s rival, proposed a "primary of the democrats" four days earlier, aiming to unite right and center candidates into a single candidacy. This move seeks to strengthen their chances of reaching the second round of the presidential election against the far-right and left-wing parties.

Philippe questions unity of primary

Philippe argued that a primary would bring together candidates who are not in agreement, including those continuing Macron’s policies and others aligning with the union of the right. He cited David Lisnard as an example of the latter group.

Philippe remains open to change

While he currently opposes the primary, Philippe did not completely rule out a potential shift in his position in the coming months. He emphasized that there is still time before the first round of the 2027 election for candidates to make their case.

Philippe delays candidate differentiation

He suggested that candidates from the right and center should not differentiate themselves until February 2027, when they would be expected to take responsibility for their positions. He hinted that less popular candidates might then withdraw from the race.

Philippe focuses on his campaign

Philippe, who is currently ahead of Attal in opinion polls, plans to use the remaining months to present his policies and explain his vision for France. He said he is prepared to face the consequences if the public chooses a different path.