Former French PM Edouard Philippe announces presidential candidacy

The 2027 French presidential election has its first known candidate, with former prime minister Edouard Philippe announcing his intention to run. 

Mr Philippe, the current mayor of Le Havre and former prime minister under Emmanuel Macron, declared his intentions in an interview with French media outlet Le Point on Tuesday (September 3). 

“I'm getting ready to make some proposals… what I propose will be massive. It will be up to the French people to decide [if they agree with them],” he said. 

It was widely expected that Mr Philippe would run in the 2027 election, and he has previously mentioned he was considering doing so.

However, the announcement has come extremely early, with most candidates unlikely to officially announce their candidacy until late 2026 or early 2027. 

Emmanuel Macron declared his intention to run in the 2017 election five months before the first round.

Mr Macron cannot run in 2027 as the French Constitution does not allow a president to serve three consecutive terms.

Read more: If Macron resigns now as president could he stand again in 2027?

Does Mr Philippe have a chance of winning?

Mr Philippe is generally regarded as a popular candidate, more so than others who are politically linked to President Macron in the public consciousness. 

Despite working under Mr Macron, he is seen as veering to the right of the political spectrum, and would be open to working with right-wing groups including the former Les Républicains, of which he was a member prior to allying with the current president.

Mr Philippe was the first prime minister of Mr Macron’s presidency, holding the post from May 2017 to July 2020. He has since formed his own centre-right party, Horizons, which is allied to Macron and part of the centrist coalition.

Polls run since the 2022 presidential election have repeatedly shown Mr Philippe is also one of the only centrist politicians who would be capable of beating a far-right candidate – such as Marine Le Pen – from the Rassemblement National in a second-round run off. 

However, the political climate has shifted since the legislative elections earlier this year, and several factors will affect the 2027 presidential elections.

This includes whether the left-wing alliance of the Nouveau Front Populaire can be maintained for a presidential bid, and if the Rassemblement National can continue to grow – the party came first in France during June’s EU elections.

Read more: Comment: Macron may pull rabbit out of hat for new PM but will it work?

Philippe urges right-wing to ally with Macron

In addition, Mr Philippe was questioned about the all-encompassing vacancy at his former post, with France still without a new prime minister nearly two months after July’s legislative elections.

Read more: Who is Thierry Beaudet, the new name considered in search for French PM?

He said that he would support “any prime minister chosen from a political spectrum ranging from the conservative right to social democracy. 

“The main objective of all governing parties should be to encourage the stabilisation of political life,” he added. 

However, he was critical of his former allies on the right, for refusing to join a broad coalition in the Assemblée nationale that would support a candidate put forward by President Macron. 

“The right must commit. By refusing to participate in this central bloc, it is precipitating the whole thing towards the left.” 

Previously, however, Mr Philippe has been openly critical of the president, particularly over his decision to announce this year’s legislative elections.