The question of whether Édouard Philippe will participate in a primary of the right and center ahead of the presidential election may finally be answered this Sunday, November 1, when the former prime minister is the guest on TF1’s 8 p.m. news broadcast.
Although he has ruled out the possibility for several months, the mayor of Le Havre is well aware of the growing pressure on his shoulders since Gabriel Attal, his main rival within the “central bloc,” revived the idea on Friday during a trip to Brittany.
Attal Warns of Consequences
“Those who would do everything to block the arrival of this primary and this process of unification would bear a very heavy responsibility in the arrival of a second round between La France Insoumise and the Rassemblement National,” declared the Renaissance leader, arguing that the primary of the social-democratic space organized in October—which saw Raphaël Glucksmann emerge victorious—is an example to follow.
“No candidate is in a position, given their standing in the polls, to unite others around them,” he judged, convinced that “the lines have moved in just a few hours.” Indeed, several figures previously opposed to the primary have eventually come around to the idea. This is notably the case of former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who explained on RTL that “everything that allows us to unite is going in the right direction.”
Bergé: ‘The Only Possible Selection Method’
On Saturday, Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé added fuel to the fire. In an interview with Le Parisien, she affirmed that “it is the only possible selection method to have a single candidacy of the center and the right.”
“Renaissance, the MoDem, Horizons, the UDI, the Radical Party, Les Républicains and Nouvelle Énergie must together define the conditions for participation, for endorsements by elected officials or party members, and the modalities for the French people to take part,” she assured.
“It is not yet too late,” Bergé insisted, setting the horizon of the end of 2026 to reach agreement on organizing such a mechanism.
Disagreements Over Scope
However, different leaders of the “central bloc” diverge on the scope of the primary. In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche this Sunday, November 1, MoDem MP leader Marc Fesneau ruled out participation by David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes.
“He is preparing the grand alliance with the far right, like Sarah Knafo,” accused the ally of François Bayrou.
Indeed, David Lisnard, who has been favored by Bolloré media in recent weeks, has publicly stated that he would vote for Marine Le Pen in the event of a second round against Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Furthermore, Marc Fesneau intends to welcome “social democrats” within the primary. “A primary solely of the right and center would lock us into outdated patterns,” he warned—which does not appear to be the path outlined by Bergé or Attal.
Polling Concerns
In short, the hypothetical primary of the right and center has not yet been born, and it is already sparking controversy. Among those who claim Emmanuel Macron’s legacy, many are dismayed by polls that systematically exclude them from qualifying for the second round. Only Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon are faring well.
The question now is whether Édouard Philippe can continue to refuse to participate in the primary or whether he will be forced to yield. Declining poll numbers, a lackluster campaign, competition from David Lisnard and Bruno Retailleau—the indicators are hardly favorable for the man who intended to be the natural candidate of his political family.
“The decline is general for the right and center,” dismissed his spokesperson Maël de Calan in La Tribune. “The balance of forces has not changed within it. Édouard Philippe remains the only one with a chance of qualifying for the second round.” The coming weeks will tell whether his optimism is justified.
