Dominique de Villepin, a former French prime minister and foreign minister, has been making public appearances and commenting on international affairs, but has not yet officially announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. Although he has launched a political movement, published an essay, and traveled across France, he has not confirmed whether he will run. In an interview with BFMTV on August 30, he said he would announce his candidacy once the electoral campaign moves beyond its initial phase. His team notes that the election is eight months away and that they are waiting for the right moment to formally launch his campaign, likely during the autumn. Villepin has been critical of the current political system in France, calling it "a political system that is failing" and pointing to President Emmanuel Macron’s political movement, Macronism, as a prime example. While he acknowledges the existence of other political groups, such as La France insoumise (a left-wing party) and the Rassemblement national (a right-wing party), he views them as "off the ground" and "not applicable." He has not explicitly presented himself as the solution to France’s challenges but has outlined a vision for a "gathering of French people," suggesting a broad political alliance that spans from the social right to the ecological left. Despite his political ambitions, Villepin is currently polling very low, with recent surveys placing him at around 2 or 2.5% in the polls. He has not yet secured the 500 endorsements from elected officials required to run, currently having only 220 to 250. His past attempt to run for president in 2012 failed due to a lack of endorsements. Some former colleagues have expressed doubts about his ability to gain support, citing his "distant, even tense" or "contemptuous" relationships with collaborators and political leaders. Villepin’s team, however, claims that his campaign structure is more professional and organized than in 2012. It includes structured teams focused on securing endorsements, managing finances, and a technical team of about 80 senior civil servants and intellectuals. They also highlight his participation in upcoming programs and debates, such as "Objectif 2027" on LCI and an event with journalist François Ruffin organized by the newspaper Libération. Nevertheless, Villepin faces additional challenges, including an ongoing investigation by the financial prosecutor into statuettes he received during his time as a minister between 2004 and 2022. His past activities abroad, particularly in China, have also drawn scrutiny.