Invited this Thursday morning on BFMTV to speak with Apolline de Malherbe, François Bayrou reaffirmed that he would not be a candidate in the 2027 presidential election. The former Prime Minister , who had already announced his intention not to run, nevertheless intends to continue to have an influence on the recomposition of the center and in the search for a joint candidacy.
François Bayrou's position is now clear: he will not try his luck at the Élysée Palace again. After his candidacies in 2002, 2007, and 2012, the MoDem leader has ruled out running in 2027. This is a decision he had already expressed in recent months and which he reaffirmed this Thursday morning.
To have influence without being a candidate
His withdrawal does not mean the end of the presidential race. François Bayrou intends to continue playing a role in selecting the candidate of the center and moderate right. He particularly advocates for a coalition of political forces that reject extremism, in order to avoid a fragmentation of candidacies in the first round.
The former head of government has not, moreover, endorsed any particular candidate. He intends to maintain influence in shaping the political landscape for 2027 and to participate in the emergence of a candidacy capable of uniting a broad spectrum of support beyond just the MoDem party.
François Bayrou's history with presidential elections is also inextricably linked to that of Emmanuel Macron . In 2017, while considering a fourth candidacy after those of 2002, 2007, and 2012, the leader of the MoDem party ultimately decided against running himself and instead offered an "alliance" to Emmanuel Macron . His endorsement was a pivotal moment in the future president's campaign, before the MoDem became one of the main partners in the presidential majority. Bayrou was subsequently appointed Minister of Justice at the beginning of Macron's first term, and then Prime Minister in December 2024.
At 75, François Bayrou is preparing to experience the 2027 presidential election in a different role: no longer that of a candidate, but that of a figure seeking to influence the choice of the candidate who will represent his political sphere. After three presidential candidacies and his withdrawal in favor of Emmanuel Macron in 2017, his decision seems to close the door on the prospect of another personal attempt to conquer the Élysée Palace.
