Gabriel Attal Calls for Democratic Primary to Block LFI-RN Runoff

Gabriel Attal, the former French prime minister and Renaissance candidate for the Élysée, has called for a “great democratic primary” before the presidential election. Speaking on TF1’s evening news, he said the vote could prevent a second round between La France insoumise and the Rassemblement national, which he warned France would not recover from.

Attal argued that millions of French people hope for such a gathering to restore hope to those who doubt it is possible to block that runoff. He added that anyone choosing to stay outside this moment of unity would bear responsibility for the division.

“It is time to be all responsible and organize the gathering that millions of French people aspire to through a great primary.”

The proposal drew an immediate cold response from rival centrist Édouard Philippe, who has been a declared candidate since 2024 and opposes the primary. Horizons assembly group president Laurent Marcangeli dismissed the idea as a confused and risky “en même temps” project that could not avoid an LFI-RN duel.

Bruno Retailleau’s circle was equally negative, calling Attal’s primary stillborn because it does not clearly define its scope and does not exclude Raphaël Glucksmann. Retailleau’s allies said a primary ranging from Glucksmann to Retailleau would mean five more years of “en même temps” and would be the best way to elect Marine Le Pen.

L’Express reported that Attal’s campaign is suffering from weak opinion polls, making the primary move a matter of political timing. A campaign cadre joked that Attal is not yet relegated but that every match is decisive, while an EPR deputy leader noted that Philippe is collapsing in the polls faster than Attal.

Attal’s inner circle said he had definitively decided in favor of the primary on Monday, choosing what Philippe’s allies described as an “air pocket” or “false flat” to launch the maneuver.