Gabriel Attal considers a primary election between the right and the center for the 2027 presidential election

Paris – 26 May 2026: Former prime minister and Renaissance party leader Gabriel Attal has officially announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on 22 May 2026 in the village of Mour-de-Ballet in southern France, the 37-year-old expressed his willingness to lead the country and said he intended to distance himself from the era of his predecessor Emmanuel Macron.

Attal emphasized the need to strengthen the political center and to offer an alternative to divisive forces such as La France Insoumise (LFI) and the National Rally (RN). In that context, he discussed the possibility of holding a primary among Macron supporters to decide a joint candidate and prevent vote-splitting. He said, “If there is a risk of a runoff between LFI and RN in early 2027, and our political space is not represented because of vote-splitting, then of course we should unite.”

Those remarks raise the question of whether other potential candidates would be willing to take part in a primary. In particular, former prime minister and Horizons party leader Édouard Philippe has already declared his candidacy and has repeatedly opposed the idea of a primary. Philippe has stressed the importance of dialogue between parties and has set up a “cooperation committee” between Horizons and MoDem to integrate the center and center-right space.

The debate over a primary among Macron supporters is part of a broader political strategy aimed at deciding a common candidate for the 2027 presidential election without splitting voter support. In this context, 90 right- and center-leaning MPs issued a statement in La Tribune Dimanche calling for unity, seeking to find a common candidate and avoid a runoff between LFI and RN.

Despite these efforts, the political landscape remains fragmented. In addition to Attal and Philippe, The Republicans’ Bruno Retailleau and Gérald Darmanin of Renaissance have also shown interest in the presidency. Different approaches and questions of leadership within any united front make forming a common candidate difficult.

The coming months will be critical in determining whether the various actors can overcome their differences to form a common front, strengthen the center, and prevent a split in voter support. The debate over a primary could be key to deciding an acceptable candidate and maximizing the chances of success in the 2027 presidential election.