Why the announcement of Edouard Philippe’s candidacy for the Elysée is causing a stir even in the presidential camp

While negotiations for the post of Prime Minister are in full swing, the former Prime Minister surprised the political class by revealing his presidential intentions. A choice of clarity, his troops assume, which deeply annoys Emmanuel Macron’s party.

No white smoke is yet visible at Matignon, but a former Prime Minister is now a declared candidate for the presidential election. In an interview with Point Published on Tuesday September 3, Edouard Philippe confirmed his ambitions for the Élysée. “It is no secret that I will be a candidate in the next presidential election”he delivered, promising to propose a program “massive” for the French. If the substance of the announcement does not surprise, the chosen calendar raises questions, in the midst of political negotiations to find a head of government, two months after the early legislative elections.

“In every interview, he is asked the question about the presidential electionjustifies the entourage of the mayor of Le Havre (Seine-Maritime). Every time, he answers that he is preparing for it. He has chosen to stop beating around the bush and be clear: he is working, preparing and will be a candidate in the next presidential election.”

Those close to Edouard Philippe all praise their champion’s desire for clarity, who warned his camp during a political office a few moments before the publication of the Point. “He likes things to be clear. In the current great confusion, a little clarity does no harm. We materialize the obvious.”assures Arnaud Péricard, the mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines).He announces it, he displays it. It was an open secret, now it is a certainty,” adds Bérangère Abba, deputy general secretary of Horizons, the party founded by Edouard Philippe.

This official announcement was immediately and unsurprisingly criticized by the former Prime Minister’s opponents. “I find this announcement indecent. At a time when France is in crisis and plunged into a quagmire by Emmanuel Macron, we have someone who comes to talk to us about his personal ambitions.”denounced Edwige Diaz, a National Rally MP, on France Bleu on Wednesday. “The timing is rotten, we don’t give a damn,” bluntly castigated Florence Portelli, vice-president of LR, on RTL. “That “says a lot about the situation of fracturing in the Macronist bloc”Manuel Bompard, coordinator of La France Insoumise, joked on LCI.

The announcement also sparked incomprehension, even anger, among Horizons partners. “We search, but we do not understand” Edouard Philippe’s strategy, confides a MoDem heavyweight. Within Renaissance, this statement was also not well received. “It’s so out of timing”sighs a close friend of Emmanuel Macron. “Let’s say we’re on something else: the country, for example,” another one quips.

“Showing individualism, talking about an upcoming election (…), declaring one’s candidacy does not seem appropriate to me”denounced on LCI Tuesday evening François Patriat, the leader of the Macronists in the Senate. “[François] Patriat said out loud what is said quietly at Renaissance. Edouard Philippe missed the opportunity to keep quiet.”castigates a former minister of Emmanuel Macron.

“Clarify things? But it’s already been clear since the creation of Horizons. It’s more a way of reminding people that he’s still there and of getting people talking about him.”

A former minister of Emmanuel Macron

to franceinfo

The Head of State’s supporters are also finding references to Emmanuel Macron’s potential resignation hard to swallow. Edouard Philippe has announced that he will be a candidate “at the next presidential election”without mentioning the date of 2027, and even confirmed that he would be on the starting line for the Elysée in the event of an early presidential election. “It is a doubly clumsy statement: on the timing, three years before the election, and on its implications that he is in fact preparing for an early presidential election.”criticizes a Renaissance framework.

The head of state has, however, ruled out this hypothesis on several occasions, notably in his letter to the French people of June 24. “You can trust me to act until May 2027 as your president, protector at every moment of our Republic, of our values, respectful of pluralism and of your choices, at your service and that of the nation”, he wrote.

But, in Edouard Philippe’s camp, we are preparing for all scenarios. “With what happened with the dissolution, the craziest scenarios are not unrealizable. If ever there was an acceleration of the schedule, we would be ready”book by Arnaud Péricard.

“The times call for anticipation and being prepared for any eventuality, it’s not crazy.”

Bérangère Abba, Deputy Secretary General of Horizons

to franceinfo

The former Prime Minister’s relatives refute any haste. The principle of the interview at Point was also agreed during the summer and the interview was conducted before the last meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe, on Monday evening. “We do not have to be hostage to a timetable that is not ours. Edouard Philippe is not a candidate for Matignon, he has another trajectory”assures Arnaud Péricard. Referring to the often cool relations between Horizons and Renaissance, this close friend of the former Prime Minister brushes aside the criticisms of the Macronists: “I am tired of receiving moral lessons from our partners who have not always been exemplary in this matter. Everyone must examine their conscience.”

The unity of the presidential camp is in any case reasserted with this officialization.If Edouard thinks he can be a candidate by denying the action taken since 2017 and crushing Renaissance and the Modem, he is seriously mistaken. Without the unity of the central bloc, no victory will be possible in 2027.judges a Renaissance executive. But Edouard Philippe is contributing to its division here. It is simply a political error.” Response from a supporter of Edouard Philippe : “Oh, they were very happy that we occupied the media space for a few hours.”