2027 Presidential Race: Accused by Attal of Having ‘Ideas from 20 Years Ago,’ Philippe Urges Him to Target Their Opponents

The contest between Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe for leadership of France’s centrist bloc is becoming increasingly public, with both men positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Attal, speaking during a visit to an agricultural fair in Châlons-en-Champagne, said the two politicians maintained “very good relations” but stressed their “real differences.” He questioned Philippe’s status as the natural or favorite candidate of their political family, citing polls that placed Philippe almost within the margin of error behind him.

Attal also criticized the political approach associated with his rival. “The point of this election is not to recreate the parties of 20 years ago with the people of 20 years ago and the ideas of 20 years ago,” he said. He contrasted his campaign presence among the public with what he described as a political meeting elsewhere.

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The point of this election is not to recreate the parties of 20 years ago with the people of 20 years ago and the ideas of 20 years ago.

Philippe, the Horizons candidate and mayor of Le Havre, responded by outlining a possible political reorganization. He said it could involve a new party or a confederation of parties, without recreating the former UMP. His proposal calls for one candidate in each constituency, running under a common banner and a majority-government agreement.

Philippe said he and Attal would eventually have to unite. Rather than trade “small attacks,” he urged them to focus on Marine Le Pen, whose project he called dangerous for France, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose proposals he described as difficult to characterize because they appeared so irrational to him.

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Each of us should direct our attacks at our opponents.