Paris (France) (AFP) – “We must help the one who is capable of qualifying for the second round” of the presidential election among the candidates of the central bloc, that is to say Edouard Philippe, urged Gérald Darmanin on Tuesday, targeting Gabriel Attal and Bruno Retailleau, also contenders for the Elysée.
Published on: 03/11/2026 - 11:01
“You have to be a good sport and see that here, in November”, Edouard Philippe is in the best position, “this is the observation that we all make”, estimated the Minister of Justice during an interview on BFMTV.
“Edouard Philippe is not quite capable of qualifying for the second round,” admitted Gérald Darmanin, support of the mayor of Le Havre in the race for the Elysée since the end of August, noting “a danger for us and for him”.
But, he added, "the others are not at all capable of doing it", calling for "helping the one who is capable of succeeding, to qualify for the second round".
Édouard Philippe received 16% of voting intentions in a Cluster 17 study for Politico published on October 26, in third position behind Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
In the hypothesis of a central bloc represented by Gabriel Attal, the latter collects 12% of voting intentions, in fourth position behind Raphaël Glucksmann.
On the right, Bruno Retailleau collects 7% of voting intentions, behind the liberal and ex-LR David Lisnard.
“We must rally behind Edouard Philippe,” insisted Gérald Darmanin.
"Either no one wants Edouard Philippe personally - in these cases, that can be understood, political life is made up of feelings and it must be said", he quipped, but "I find it surprising not to help someone who has been between 16 and 17% in almost all the polls for almost two years now".
Gérald Darmanin, on the other hand, dismissed the idea of a "primary" - which he once defended -, now called for by Gabriel Attal but still rejected by Edouard Philippe.
“200 days before the presidential election, we no longer have time,” considered the former mayor of Tourcoing.
pab/bed/asm
© 2026 AFP
The content you are trying to access does not exist or is no longer available.
