Presidential 2027: After Maud Brégeon, Éric Woerth backs Édouard Philippe

Renaissance deputy Éric Woerth has publicly endorsed Édouard Philippe for the 2027 French presidential election, signaling a significant boost for the mayor of Le Havre's ambitions. Woerth, a former budget minister under Nicolas Sarkozy and a recent defector to the Renaissance party, stated that Philippe possesses the profile France needs to navigate its current challenges.

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He has the profile that France needs to respond to the difficulties of the moment.

Woerth's endorsement, made in an interview with Les Échos, highlights Philippe's experience in significant leadership roles, including his tenure as prime minister. "As mayor and prime minister, Édouard Philippe has held important responsibilities and, in a way, has experience with difficulties," Woerth explained, referencing Philippe's widely praised management of the COVID-19 crisis. This experience, he suggested, has solidified Philippe's image as a reassuring leader among the French public.

Philippe's campaign appears to be gathering steam, with Woerth's support following recent endorsements from former Ecology Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet and government spokesperson Maud Brégeon. These alignments suggest a strategic consolidation of support within the central political bloc, as Philippe prepares for a major meeting in Paris on July 5th, intended to mark a significant acceleration of his campaign.

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As mayor and prime minister, Édouard Philippe has held important responsibilities and has, in a way, the experience of difficulties.

Woerth, despite stepping down as a deputy in April to lead PMU, remains actively engaged in national politics and the upcoming presidential contest. He emphasized the need to restore collective confidence in a country facing an "existential crisis," and to address persistent issues such as pensions, public finances, and ecological transition. While Woerth's direct political weight may have shifted, his public backing of Philippe is seen as a valuable reinforcement, intensifying the competition for leadership within the central political spectrum, particularly between Philippe and Gabriel Attal.

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We must restore collective confidence and resolve issues that we talk about constantly without resolving them, such as pensions, public finances, or the ecological transition.