Thierry Breton, a former European commissioner from 2019 to 2024 and a former minister of Economy under French President Jacques Chirac from 2005 to 2007, recently commented on the upcoming 2027 presidential election. During an interview on BFMTV-RMC on September 11, he suggested that there are "already sufficiently" many candidates for the race. However, when asked directly about his own potential run for president, Breton chose not to answer and instead focused on proposing a strategy for political leaders. Breton’s name has been linked to the presidential race by François Bayrou, the leader of the centrist Modem party. Bayrou supports a primary election for candidates who reject far-left and far-right extremes. He praised Breton, noting that he is "rooted in the great democratic and reformist family" of French politics. Bayrou also highlighted that Breton has not been part of the current government and has the ability to unite a broad range of voters due to his experience in both national and European politics. In the interview, Breton expressed concern about the political and social stagnation in France since the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2023. He criticized the current government for delaying important reforms, particularly the pension reform, which he described as having been "put on hold." Breton called for a return to "discipline in our country, in our minds, and in our behavior" and advocated for a "golden rule" in budgetary policy, emphasizing fiscal responsibility. Breton emphasized that his goal is to support the candidate he believes is best suited to lead France, especially one who can combat the influence of the political extremes. He described his proposal as a "path together" and assured political leaders that he has "seen everyone" in the political landscape. However, he clarified that he is not running for president himself and aims to influence the political direction of the country without seeking office.