Claude Malhuret, president of the Independents group and a member of the political alliance Horizons, has called for a swift unification of center and right candidates ahead of upcoming elections. He warned that the current political landscape risks becoming too fragmented, and if three candidates emerge, it could lead to a situation where none of them achieve significant success. Malhuret emphasized the need for all parties to quickly establish clear criteria for selecting a single candidate and expressed support for Édouard Philippe, a former prime minister and current political figure. Bruno Retailleau, president of the Republicans (LR) and a presidential candidate, has rejected calls to withdraw from the race, arguing that doing so would benefit Marine Le Pen, a far-right candidate. Retailleau claimed he has a "breakthrough project" that differs from the policies of former prime ministers under President Emmanuel Macron. He criticized Macron's leadership, suggesting that it has created a political center where no one feels truly represented. Retailleau insisted that the needed political project should be neither aligned with Macron's policies nor extreme in nature. Retailleau also addressed concerns about the rise in violence within student movements and called for a reconsideration of the ban on France Insoumise (LFI), a left-wing political party. He accused LFI of promoting violence and civil disobedience, suggesting that the party's actions are a "dress rehearsal" for what they might attempt after the presidential elections. Retailleau pointed to the Union Syndicale Etudiante, a student syndicate linked to LFI, as a source of unrest and urged authorities to make a decision on whether to ban the group. The political discourse reflects a broader struggle among center and right-wing candidates to present a cohesive alternative to both the current government and the far-left. As the election season approaches, the calls for unity and the debate over the influence of radical groups continue to shape the national conversation.