Paris – 11.06.2026: Bruno Retailleau, former Minister of the Interior and President of the Les Républicains party, has announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. Known for his conservative positions, especially on social issues, he has positioned himself as a determined opponent of same-sex marriage and the constitutional amendment on abortion rights.
Born on November 20, 1960, in Cholet, Retailleau grew up in Saint-Malô-du-Bois in the Vendée department. After studying at Sciences Po Paris and pursuing a career in the media sector, including serving as managing director of the communication school Sciencescom, he became involved with Puy du Fou, a historical theme park near his hometown. There, he worked, among other roles, as director of the “Cinéscénie.”
Politically, Retailleau began his career in 1988 as general councilor of the canton Mortagne-sur-Sèvre. This was followed by various political offices, including deputy from 1994 to 1997, president of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire from 2016 to 2017, and president of the Les Républicains party since May 2025. In September 2024, he was appointed Minister of the Interior by President Michel Barnier.
Throughout his political career, Retailleau has repeatedly expressed conservative views. In 2013, he was one of the leading figures of the “La Manif pour Tous” movement, which opposed same-sex marriage. He also opposed the inclusion of the right to abortion in the constitution.
Despite his closeness to Philippe de Villiers, founder of Puy du Fou, Retailleau increasingly distanced himself from de Villiers’ ultra-conservative positions in the 2000s. This development caused tensions and ultimately led to his removal from Puy du Fou.
In April 2026, Retailleau was officially nominated by his party as the presidential candidate, receiving 73.8% of the votes in an internal electronic ballot. Despite this clear result, voter turnout was 60%, indicating some reservation within the party. Retailleau describes his candidacy as a duty rather than a personal ambition and aims to bring the right back to power after 15 years of absence.
In recent months, Retailleau has drawn attention with controversial statements. He criticized Spanish migration policy and suggested excluding Spain from the European Union, provoking strong reactions. Critics accused him of jeopardizing relations with Spain and endangering European cooperation with this rhetoric.
Despite these controversies, Retailleau remains a central figure of the French right. His candidacy for the 2027 presidential election is being closely watched as it could significantly influence France’s political landscape.
Sources
- Le Monde