Barnier supports Retailleau's presidential bid

Michel Barnier, a former prime minister and current member of the National Assembly, reiterated his support for Bruno Retailleau during an interview on Public Sénat's morning show. Barnier expressed confidence in Retailleau, who is running for president as the leader of Les Républicains (LR), stating that Retailleau is an experienced statesman who deserves trust.

Polling data shows Retailleau's challenges

Despite recent polling data indicating that Retailleau's campaign is struggling to gain momentum, Barnier remains optimistic, suggesting that the outcome of the campaign will be clearer in time. The data suggests that Retailleau is not currently leading the field among right-center candidates.

Barnier calls for unity among right-center candidates

Barnier emphasized the need for unity among right-center candidates, suggesting that they should consider consolidating their efforts behind a single candidate. He mentioned that this could potentially happen through a primary election, possibly by January.

Barnier suggests collaboration between candidates

He also noted that current polling data from October may not be indicative of the final results, suggesting that the political landscape could shift before the election. In this context, Barnier expressed a desire for candidates like Retailleau and David Lisnard, who are currently tied in the polls at 7% each, to find common ground and work together.