Philippe: French right and center must unite by February for 2027 election

Édouard Philippe, the president of the Horizons political party, anticipates that the various right-wing and centrist candidates in France will coalesce into a single bloc sometime between November and February. Speaking on BFMTV during a campaign trip to Mayotte and Reunion, Philippe stressed the urgency of this consolidation, warning that any delay beyond February would be detrimental to their chances in the 2027 presidential election.

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I believe that all those who traditionally classify themselves in the camp of the right... and the center, have the potential to work together, to unite if they want to prevail, if they want to convince the French people.

Philippe, a former Prime Minister, acknowledged the growing ambitions within the right and center, citing candidacies such as Bruno Retailleau from Les Républicains and Gabriel Attal from Renaissance. He predicted that the definitive alignment of forces would occur within the specified November-to-February window. "If it's after, it will be too late. February is already late," he stated, contrasting with Gabriel Attal's suggestion to wait until early 2027.

The mayor of Le Havre underscored the necessity of this union to effectively challenge the already established candidacies of Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. "I believe that all those who traditionally classify themselves in the camp of the right... and the center, have the potential to work together, to unite if they want to prevail, if they want to convince the French people," Philippe declared. He cautioned against internal conflict, stating, "None of us will succeed if they think success lies in war or fighting against others or in a solitary calculation."

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None of us will succeed if they think success lies in war or fighting against others or in a solitary calculation.

While many in this political spectrum agree on the need for unity, the timing and method of achieving it remain points of debate. Unlike Gabriel Attal, who has highlighted the importance of opinion polls, Philippe focuses on the broader dynamics of a campaign. "A campaign is not a succession of polls," he argued. "The French will see the personalities, they will see the way of speaking, the style, what we want to do, with whom we propose to do it. And progressively, they will decide. And that's what a campaign is for."

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A campaign is not a succession of polls. The French will see the personalities, they will see the way of speaking, the style, what we want to do, with whom we propose to do it. And progressively, they will decide. And that's what a campaign is for.

Philippe expressed confidence that this political convergence would happen, believing that the responsible leaders within this political space would act accordingly. He also dismissed the possibility of Sébastien Lecornu, whom he knows well, running for president, citing Lecornu's current role as Prime Minister and his apparent lack of interest in presidential ambitions.

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If it's after, it will be too late. February is already late.