Édouard Philippe is advocating for a union of the right and center by February

On Saturday, Édouard Philippe called for unity among right-wing and centrist candidates during his campaign trip to Mayotte and Réunion. Appearing on BFMTV, the president of Horizons and declared candidate for the 2027 presidential election set a precise timeline: the coalition must be formed between November and February, otherwise the chances of victory will be jeopardized. This stance comes as several candidacies are emerging within this political camp, including Bruno Retailleau for The Republicans and Gabriel Attal for Renaissance.

A four-month window to decide

The mayor of Le Havre emphasized the urgency of the situation. After February, he believes the opportunity will be missed and the conditions for victory will no longer be met. This statement sounds like an ultimatum addressed to the various right-wing and centrist candidates, who, according to him, have a natural inclination to unite against the other political forces.

The timeframe set by Édouard Philippe is forcing the leadership of the parties involved to accelerate their discussions. The next four months will be crucial in determining whether this political family will manage to present a united front or whether it will be divided in the first round of the presidential election.