Gabriel Attal has opened the door to supporting Bruno Retailleau or David Lisnard in the 2027 presidential election. Appearing on France Inter radio on Monday, November 9th, the former Prime Minister suggested he might vote for one of these two politicians if they were to win a potential primary for the right and center. This stance illustrates his desire to unite several political parties behind a single candidate, despite significant differences in their platforms and ideological orientations.
The prospect of a joint candidacy between the right and the center is taking on a new dimension. Gabriel Attal , the Renaissance candidate for the 2027 presidential election, has now stated his willingness to support a representative of the Republicans or New Energy following a primary. This openness notably concerns Bruno Retailleau, former Minister of the Interior and a leading figure of the conservative right, as well as David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes and president of the New Energy movement. The former Prime Minister's stance marks a shift in his relationship with the traditional right. Until now, Gabriel Attal had regularly emphasized the differences between the political projects of Renaissance and the Republicans, particularly on issues of immigration, security, and social policy. But with the presidential election just months away, the prospect of a proliferation of candidates now seems to be weighing more heavily in his political calculations.
The former Prime Minister has been advocating for several weeks for a primary election to decide between the center-right contenders. His goal is to avoid a split vote in the first round, which could prevent the various parties within this political current from reaching the second round. Gabriel Attal believes that a single candidate would offer a better chance of qualifying against the National Rally and La France Insoumise. This strategy, however, assumes that the participants agree to recognize the primary's outcome and support its winner. By declaring himself ready to vote for Bruno Retailleau or David Lisnard, the leader of Renaissance seeks to demonstrate that he himself would accept the consequences of such a process. It remains to be seen whether this stance will be shared by all the political leaders involved.
A primary that further divides the right and the center
The idea of a broader primary is gaining ground, but several obstacles remain. Bruno Retailleau recently expressed support for a joint consultation, provided, in particular, that the political scope is clearly defined and that Édouard Philippe agrees to participate. David Lisnard has also been advocating for several months the principle of a competition to select a single candidate. Discussions, however, are focused on the voting procedures, the timetable, and the parties authorized to present a candidate. Gabriel Attal wants to exclude political figures who are considering alliances with the far right or the far left. This condition could lead to disagreements, especially among the different factions within the right wing. The possibility of holding the primary in early 2027 has been raised, although no final agreement has been announced.
The main obstacle remains Édouard Philippe's position. The former Prime Minister , a declared candidate under the Horizons banner, has so far refused to participate in a primary. His supporters believe this procedure could weaken his candidacy and trap the presidential campaign in internal rivalries. Gabriel Attal recently increased the pressure on those who wish to remain outside this process. On November 6, he stated that discussions were intensifying to reach an agreement quickly. But Édouard Philippe's absence would pose a major difficulty: a primary organized without one of the leading contenders from the center-right bloc would not necessarily prevent a proliferation of candidates in the first round. The question of political unity would therefore remain entirely open.
Gabriel Attal seeks to influence the political realignment
This opening comes at a time when the balance of power is shifting, as reflected in opinion polls. An Ifop poll for LCI, published in early November, places David Lisnard ahead of Bruno Retailleau in several first-round scenarios. When both Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe are candidates, the mayor of Cannes receives 7% of the vote, compared to 4% for Bruno Retailleau. These results do not predict the outcome of the presidential election, but they illustrate the growing competition between right-wing and centrist figures. For Gabriel Attal, organizing a primary could transform this rivalry into a structured competition, with the hope of then uniting the electorates of the various candidates. This strategy, however, carries a risk: the winner could find it difficult to convince supporters of other parties if the policy differences remain too significant.
Beyond the electoral question, Gabriel Attal's position raises questions about the future of Macronism after Emmanuel Macron 's departure from the Élysée Palace. Renaissance must define its place in a political landscape where several parties are seeking to attract voters from the center and the republican right. A rapprochement with Bruno Retailleau or David Lisnard could foster a broader coalition, but it would also require the leaders involved to clarify their positions on the economy, immigration, taxation, and social policies. For now, no political or programmatic agreement guarantees that such an alliance could be sustainable. By publicly accepting the possibility of supporting a candidate from the right, Gabriel Attal is nevertheless taking a step in his strategy of uniting the left. The coming weeks will determine whether this opening leads to a genuine primary or whether the 2027 presidential election will remain characterized by competition between several candidates from the same political spectrum.
Respond to the article
Be the first to comment on this article.