Over 200 elected officials back call for center-right primary

A significant group of over 200 elected officials, comprising mayors, regional and departmental councilors, and parliamentarians, have publicly endorsed a call for a primary election within the center-right political spectrum. The initiative is spearheaded by Hervé Morin, the president of the Normandy region and a former Minister of Defense.

In an open letter, these officials express strong disapproval of what they term the "hypocrisy" of candidates who are unwilling to participate in a primary contest. Morin, in commentary accompanying the letter, argues that the current field of candidates, specifically naming Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, and Bruno Retailleau, lacks the ability to create sufficient momentum to avert a significant electoral setback.

With the presidential election nine months away, the signatories warn of a potential scenario where the second round could result in a political and programmatic deadlock, pitting the far-left against the far-right. They assert that a majority of French citizens desire a different outcome. The signatories include notable figures such as former LR deputy Véronique Louwagie and Liot deputy Charles de Courson.

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À neuf mois de l’élection présidentielle, tout indique ainsi que le second tour risque de se solder par une impasse politique et programmatique opposant l’extrême gauche et l’extrême droite, alors qu’une majorité de Français veut autre chose