Gérald Darmanin urges Édouard Philippe to run as a presidential candidate

Paris – 26 May 2026: Gérald Darmanin, the French Minister of Justice, has described Édouard Philippe, former Prime Minister and Mayor of Le Havre, as the "best positioned" for the upcoming 2027 presidential election. In an interview with France 2, Darmanin stressed the need for a unified candidacy from the moderate camp to avoid divisions within the centre and the right. He said: "There needs to be a single candidate."

Darmanin, who has also expressed presidential ambitions, emphasised that it is now up to Philippe to clearly demonstrate his willingness to run. "He has to show us his desire to be President of the Republic. I know him personally and I know that he has that desire, but he must show it to the French people," Darmanin explained.

Philippe, who has been Mayor of Le Havre since 2010 and served as Prime Minister under President Emmanuel Macron between 2017 and 2020, has previously indicated his willingness to run in the 2027 presidential election. However, he has not yet made a formal announcement.

The political landscape for the 2027 election is currently marked by uncertainty. Alongside Philippe, Gabriel Attal, former Minister of Education and current president of the Renaissance party, has officially announced his candidacy. Attal seeks to distance himself from Macron’s legacy and establish his own political identity.

Darmanin himself has previously stated his willingness to run. In an interview with "Le Parisien" in April 2025, he said: "I am working towards the presidency." However, he also stressed the importance of a collective decision and spoke in favour of a primary election within the moderate camp to choose a joint candidate.

The discussions surrounding candidacies for the 2027 presidential election reflect the current tensions within the French political spectrum. While the moderate camp seeks a unified candidate to bring together the right, right-wing parties face the challenge of overcoming their internal differences and developing a coherent strategy.

The coming months will be decisive in clarifying the candidate lineup and political priorities ahead of the 2027 election. The question of who will ultimately receive the support of the moderate camp and be able to appeal to a broad electorate remains open.

Meanwhile, political debate in France will continue to focus on issues of national identity, economic policy and social justice. The coming months will reveal which topics will dominate the agenda of the 2027 presidential election.