French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has officially ruled out a presidential bid in 2027, throwing his support behind former prime minister Édouard Philippe. The announcement, published Monday in La Voix du Nord, puts an end to months of speculation about Darmanin’s own ambitions and reshapes the field within France’s centrist bloc.
A Call for Unity Amid Political Turbulence
Speaking ahead of his political comeback event scheduled for August 30 in Tourcoing, Darmanin framed his decision as a matter of national interest. “We are in an extremely difficult situation, socially difficult for the French people. So I have decided not to add division and therefore not to run for president, and to support Édouard Philippe — and I hope everyone does the same,” he said.
The minister, who previously belonged to the UMP (now Les Républicains) like Philippe, acknowledged that he still has “major differences” with the mayor of Le Havre on policy. Yet he stressed loyalty and experience as decisive factors. “Édouard Philippe is the one who allowed me to become a minister, and I can assure you he has the qualities of a statesman, the experience of power, and, moreover, he is the best placed,” Darmanin explained.
Primary Debate Heats Up
Philippe, who declared his candidacy in 2024, currently leads among centrist contenders in voting intention polls, ahead of Renaissance party secretary general Gabriel Attal. Both had previously floated the idea of rallying behind whichever candidate was better positioned in early 2027.
However, last week François Bayrou, president of the MoDem party, called for a primary of “all reformist democrats,” mentioning several possible candidates including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. Darmanin expressed regret that such a primary was not organized earlier. “I regret that we did not organize this primary, which would have allowed us to have a single candidacy from September, because the danger of Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the second round is very significant,” he said. But he was blunt about the current timeline: “It is too late to organize this primary.”
Growing Support for Philippe
Within the government, Philippe has already secured backing from government spokesperson Maud Bregeon and junior minister for ecological transition Mathieu Lefèvre, both politically close to Darmanin. Philippe is scheduled to visit Mayotte and La Réunion from August 21 to 25. He will then speak at the Medef business federation’s back-to-school event and is set to debate former president François Hollande on August 29 in Sens, during the political conference of former minister Jean-Michel Blanquer’s movement.
Darmanin’s endorsement consolidates Philippe’s position as the leading figure of the center-right, while raising questions about how other potential candidates — including Attal and Breton — will respond in the coming weeks.
