Gabriel Attal is considering a primary election with the right and center for the 2027 presidential elections.

Paris – 26.05.2026: Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister and chairman of the Renaissance party, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential elections. In a speech in the southern French village of Mur-de-Barrez on May 22, 2026, the 37-year-old declared his ambition to lead the country and to distance himself from the era of his predecessor Emmanuel Macron.

Attal emphasized the need to strengthen the political center and offer an alternative to the polarizing forces of La France Insoumise (LFI) and the Rassemblement National (RN). In this context, he discussed the possibility of a primary election within the Macronist camp to select a joint candidate and prevent vote splitting. He said: “If at the beginning of 2027 there is a risk of a second round between LFI and RN, in which my political space is not represented because of vote splitting, then, of course, there must be a unification.”

These statements by Attal raise questions about the willingness of other potential candidates to subject themselves to such a primary election. Especially Édouard Philippe, former Prime Minister and chairman of the Horizons party, has already announced his candidacy and has repeatedly spoken out against the idea of a primary election. Philippe emphasized the importance of dialogue between the parties and initiated a “Commission for Connection” together with Horizons and MoDem, to unite the center and center-right spectrum.

The discussion about a possible primary election within the Macronist camp is part of a broader political maneuver aimed at preventing a split in the voter base and designating a joint candidate for the 2027 presidential elections. In this context, 90 parliamentarians from the right and center published a call for unity in “La Tribune Dimanche” to find a joint candidate and avoid a possible second round between LFI and RN.

Despite these efforts, the political landscape remains fragmented. In addition to Attal and Philippe, Bruno Retailleau of Les Républicains and Gérald Darmanin of the party “La République En Marche” have also expressed their ambitions for the presidential elections. The different approaches and the question concerning the leadership role within a possible unification make it difficult to form a joint candidate.

The coming months will be crucial to see if the different actors are willing to put aside their differences and form a united front to strengthen the political center and prevent vote splitting. The discussion about a primary election can play a key role in selecting a consensus candidate and maximizing the chances at the 2027 presidential elections.