The break is now complete. David Lisnard, mayor of Cannes and president of the Association of Mayors of France, officially left The Republicans this week. This departure, far from insignificant, comes thirteen months before the presidential election and marks a profound rift with the party's current direction. Underlying this is a clear criticism: that the right wing is too hesitant in the face of Macron's policies and incapable of offering a clear alternative to the French people.
This decision follows a discussion with Bruno Retailleau, whose overall strategy Lisnard contests more than his personality. The mayor of Cannes denounces a political party "caught between two stools," torn between participating in government and feigning opposition. For him, the time for ambiguity is over; now is the time for doctrinal clarity, in a context he compares to pivotal moments in French history.
Driven by this conviction, David Lisnard takes a decisive step this Tuesday evening on France2: He officially announces his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. This choice is consistent with his commitment to a "right wing of conviction," economically liberal, firm on matters of state sovereignty, and ambitious in education and science. He advocates a structured, grassroots-based project aimed at restoring prosperity and the authority of the state.
A candidacy to embody a confident and independent right wing
At the heart of his strategy lies a central idea: organizing a large, open primary. Lisnard hopes to unite people beyond party structures, from the center-right to the national right, in order to produce an indisputable candidate. Failing that, he does not rule out an independent path, convinced that the French people expect a renewed political offering, free from traditional partisan politics.
This positioning is already appealing to a segment of the right-wing electorate seeking consistency. Its New Energy movement is registering increasing momentum, a sign of real interest in this deliberate approach. Locally supported by figures like Éric Ciotti, Lisnard could embody a broader political realignment, at a time when the right wing is still searching for its direction.
One major question remains: will this initiative be a source of division or, on the contrary, the catalyst for renewal? One thing is certain: David Lisnard has now established himself as a key player in the right-wing debate. And in a political climate marked by doubt and disillusionment, his gamble on independence could well reshuffle the cards more profoundly than it appears.
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