2027 Presidential Election: Gérard Larcher Seeks to Unite Right and Centre Candidates Amid Growing Pressure on Édouard Philippe

The President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, has stepped into early preparations for the upcoming presidential race, proposing to bring together the most prominent candidates of the right and the centre to establish a "deciding mechanism" leading to a single candidate for the 2027 election. This move intensifies political pressure on Édouard Philippe, leader of the Horizons party, who remains steadfast in rejecting the idea of a primary.

Larcher aims to gather Bruno Retailleau, David Lisnard, Gabriel Attal, and Édouard Philippe around the same table at the Luxembourg Palace, at a time when voting intention polls for 2027 strengthen the prospect of Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon reaching the second round—a scenario raising widespread concern within the presidential camp and the republican right.

Urgent Action and Consensus on a "Deciding Mechanism"

In a statement to AFP, the head of the upper house of the French Parliament stressed that he "trusts the candidates' sense of responsibility and statesmanship" to reach an agreement, considering that they share "a certain vision of France and the interests of the French people." Larcher expressed his desire to hold this meeting "as soon as possible" to discuss the selection mechanism and the shared value system, allowing the selection of a candidate by early next year who will put forward the change necessary to revive the country, without explicitly using the term "primary."

Circles close to Larcher indicated that his initiative does not supersede the meeting of the campaign directors of Attal, Retailleau, and Lisnard scheduled for November 17 to discuss the primaries issue. They emphasized that the invitation is extended directly and exclusively to these candidates, excluding both Éric Zemmour (Reconquête) and Raphaël Glucksmann (Place Publique / Socialist Party).

Édouard Philippe's Stance and Party Reactions

Larcher's call was immediately welcomed by the Renaissance party, which announced its positive response on the "X" platform, stressing that "rallying together is no longer an option, but a necessity." Conversely, this effort faces the firm position of former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, who reiterated his categorical refusal of primaries, stating: "I made my decision many months ago, and I will not submit to a primary; I will present my candidacy directly to the French people," affirming his consistency and resolve on this matter.

Those close to Philippe express skepticism toward these efforts, describing primaries as a "race to the bottom" and warning that accepting them at the last moment could be perceived as an admission of waning political momentum.

Institutional Weight Amid Declining Poll Numbers

On the other hand, right and centre factions continue to push for organizing a primary, with Bruno Retailleau putting forward two potential dates—January 31 and February 7—raising the possibility of holding it even without the participation of Édouard Philippe. Those close to Larcher justified the acceleration of the initiative by noting that "all candidates are polling below 10%, and it is impossible to continue like this without serious dialogue."

The centre and right factions are banking on the institutional standing of the Senate President, who heads a broad parliamentary majority encompassing right and centre groups, frequently backed by presidential camp caucuses, in addition to his past experience in brokering alliances for municipal elections and previous presidential milestones in 2015 and 2021.