Bruno Retailleau Warns of Mélenchon-Le Pen Runoff and Calls for Right and Center Primaries

In an interview conducted in Saint-Raphaël in the Var department, the president of "Les Républicains" (LR), senator, and presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau announced his readiness to take part in a primary bringing together right-wing and center forces, in an effort to avoid vote fragmentation and counter severe political polarization in France.

Debt Crisis and Purchasing Power: "France Is in a State of Bankruptcy"

Commenting on social protests and the declining purchasing power of French citizens, the former interior minister painted a grim picture of the country's economic situation, asserting that he would not sell illusions to trade unions or the street. He stated: "There is no longer any money in the coffers; the public debt has reached 3,600 billion euros. In 2018, interest on the debt alone cost us 40 billion euros, while next year it will exceed 95 billion euros. France is in a state of bankruptcy, and the Prime Minister's margins of maneuver have become extremely narrow."

Retailleau rejected proposals to raise the minimum wage (Smic), arguing that it is the wrong path that increases the cost of labor in France—already the highest in Europe—and consequently fuels unemployment. Instead, he put forward an electoral proposal to work an extra 30 minutes per day, which would allow workers to earn an additional net income equivalent to two months' salary per year. Pointing to tough living conditions, he noted that three out of ten French people run out of bank liquidity by the 17th of every month, but simultaneously stressed that the state cannot continue distributing allocations without real financial backing.

The Élysée Race and the Specter of a Mélenchon-Le Pen Duel

On the political front, the LR leader acknowledged having made an "error in judgment" when he long believed that Jean-Luc Mélenchon's strategy of polarization would prevent him from broadening his electoral base. He explained: "I do not take lightly the prospect of Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen reaching the second round; the leader of 'La France Insoumise' reaching the 20% threshold in opinion polls prompted me to support the primary option."

Retailleau believes such a primary cannot take place without the participation of former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, who has so far rejected it. He called instead for organizing three major debates covering key dossiers: labor and purchasing power; security, justice, and immigration; and societal issues such as education, the environment, and health. He affirmed that in the absence of an arbitration mechanism among candidates, he would pursue his candidacy to the very end based on his platform, which focuses on cutting the number of civil servants and amending the Constitution to reassert state authority and sovereignty.

Differences with Rivals and Defending His Record

Regarding his previous participation in Michel Barnier's government, Retailleau refused to view it as an electoral liability, stressing that the absence of the right would have paved the way for a left-wing government led by the New Popular Front coalition under Lucie Castets. He explained that during his tenure at the Interior Ministry, he acted as a statesman and stood up against President Emmanuel Macron's policies on prominent issues, including immigration, Algeria, and Corsica.

Retailleau also attacked the leaders of the "National Rally" (RN), accusing Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen of demagoguery and shifting positions, while emphasizing his rejection of welfare dependency. He recalled Le Pen's vote against requiring Active Solidarity Income (RSA) recipients to complete 15 hours of activity per week as a condition for economic integration. Regarding local alliances in the Alpes-Maritimes department with Éric Ciotti's party allied with Le Pen, Retailleau reaffirmed his categorical rejection of partisan alliances at both national and municipal levels, regarding the department's situation as a specific local exception that he trusts his party's grassroots leadership to handle.