Michel Barnier announced this Friday in Le Figaro that he will support Bruno Retailleau in the race for the presidency of the Republicans. The former Prime Minister highlights their joint work at Matignon and the “solidity” of his former Minister of the Interior on key issues: national sovereignty, European ambition, and ecological transition. Without citing Laurent wauquiez, the other contender for the post, Barnier nevertheless believes that the right will need both men.
Heavyweight support and veiled ambitions
With Michel Barnier's support, Bruno Retailleau strengthens his position as frontrunner. He can now count on the support of almost all the major figures on the right, from Gérard Larcher to Valérie Pécresse, including Xavier Bertrand and David Lisnard. Facing him, Laurent Wauquiez is lining up more local supporters and former party leaders, such as Christian Jacob.
Asked about a possible presidential bid in 2027, Michel Barnier didn't rule anything out. He kept things vague, but did mention a possible alliance with Retailleau: "We have already worked together in trust, as a team," he emphasized, while also believing that a future president from the right will have to "organize his majority around a culture of compromise."
Finally, on Franco-Algerian tensions, Barnier distances himself from his former minister. He advocates a line of dialogue with Algiers, whereas Bruno Retailleau takes a more muscular approach. This nuance reveals their temperaments, but it in no way hinders their political understanding in the run-up to the congress on May 17 and 18.
