Presidential 2027: Why Laurent Wauquiez and Xavier Bertrand Won't Attend Bruno Retailleau's Rally

Bruno Retailleau, a declared candidate for the French presidency within the Les Républicains (LR) party, is set to hold his inaugural major rally on June 20 at the Parc Floral in Paris. However, the event will notably lack the presence of two prominent party figures: Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Republican Right group in the National Assembly, and Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region.

This absence underscores the significant fractures within the LR party concerning the path forward for the 2027 presidential election. The Figaro reports that Wauquiez and Retailleau are scheduled to meet privately, with their last encounter in November reportedly not improving their relationship. The divergence in their strategies for the upcoming election appears to be a primary source of tension.

While Retailleau is forging ahead with his own campaign, Wauquiez has been advocating for a broad primary election that could potentially include figures from other parties, such as Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin or Reconquête MEP Sarah Knafo. This differing approach suggests a fundamental disagreement on how the LR party should position itself and select its candidate for the crucial 2027 race.

The report indicates that Retailleau intends to proceed independently, signaling a potential solo run rather than a unified party effort. The absence of Wauquiez and Bertrand from his key rally suggests that reconciliation or alignment on strategy may be difficult to achieve within the party.