The battle between the right-wing and centrist candidates is also being fought over immigration. Speaking to the Young Republicans gathered on Saturday in Nogent-sur-Marne, Bruno Retailleau again defended his plan for a referendum on immigration, a proposal whose methodology Édouard Philippe openly opposes.
Bruno Retailleau wants to make referendums one of the main instruments of his potential presidency. The LR candidate notably wants to amend the Constitution to broaden the range of issues that can be directly submitted to the French people.
The objective is clear: to allow the organization of a referendum specifically on immigration, including on subjects which cannot currently be submitted to a popular vote under Article 11 of the Constitution.
Among the topics discussed by Bruno Retailleau were birthright citizenship, family reunification, and several rules for accessing French nationality.
Édouard Philippe refuses to extend the referendum to immigration
Édouard Philippe distinguished himself from his opponent on this point. The Horizons candidate does not wish to amend the Constitution solely to extend the scope of referendums to immigration issues.
This divergence illustrates two very different strategies for 2027. Retailleau is taking a radical stance and wants to revive some of the themes that made the National Rally so successful electorally . Philippe, on the other hand, is more focused on rebuilding a coalition spanning from the traditional right to the center.
The issue is all the more strategic as immigration is expected to play a major role in the presidential campaign.
Retailleau wants to speak directly to RN voters
Speaking to the Young Republicans, Bruno Retailleau once again presented his project as a way to give the French people a voice on issues that he believes have been excluded from popular vote for too long.
This strategy also directly targets Marine Le Pen 's electorate . The LR candidate hopes to demonstrate that a traditional right wing can propose a much firmer immigration policy without joining the National Rally.
The confrontation with Édouard Philippe therefore goes beyond a simple legal dispute over the referendum: it reveals two opposing visions of how the right and the center can hope to reach the Élysée Palace in 2027.
