Gérald Darmanin calls on Édouard Philippe to run for the presidency

Paris – 26.05.2026: Gérald Darmanin, the French Minister of Justice, has labeled Édouard Philippe, former Prime Minister and Mayor of Le Havre, as the “best placed” for the upcoming 2027 presidential elections. In an interview with France 2, Darmanin emphasized the necessity of a united candidacy from the moderate camp to prevent division within the center and right. He said: “We need a single candidate.”

Darmanin, who has himself expressed ambitions for the presidency, stressed that it is now up to Philippe to clearly show his willingness to run. “He must show us that he wants to become President of the Republic. I know him personally and know that he has that desire, but he must demonstrate this to the French,” Darmanin explained.

Philippe, who has been Mayor of Le Havre since 2010 and Prime Minister from 2017 to 2020 under President Emmanuel Macron, has previously signaled his willingness for the 2027 presidential elections. However, he has not yet made a formal announcement.

The political landscape for the 2027 elections is currently characterized by uncertainty. Besides Philippe, Gabriel Attal, former Minister of Education and current chairman of the Renaissance party, has officially announced his candidacy. Attal aims to distance himself from Macron’s legacy and establish his own political identity.

Darmanin himself has also expressed his willingness to run in the past. In an interview with “Le Parisien” in April 2025 he said: “The presidency, that’s what I am working on.” However, he also emphasized the importance of a collective decision and advocated for a primary election within the moderate camp to determine a joint candidate.

The discussions about the candidates for the 2027 presidential elections reflect the current tensions within the French political spectrum. While the moderate camp seeks a united candidate to consolidate the right, the right-wing parties face the challenge of overcoming their internal differences and developing a coherent strategy.

The coming months will be crucial to gain clarity about the candidate lineup and the political priorities for the 2027 elections. The question of who will ultimately receive the support of the moderate camp and be able to appeal to a broad electorate remains open.

In the meantime, the political debate in France will continue to be shaped by questions about national identity, economic policy, and social justice. The coming months will show which themes will dominate the agenda of the 2027 presidential elections.