Bayrou's call for broad 2027 primary from PS to Gaullists rejected across French political spectrum

Bayrou's proposal

Former Prime Minister and MoDem leader François Bayrou used an interview with Le Figaro, given on Sunday 9 August and published on 10 August 2026, to call for a "grande primaire" uniting "all those who reject extremes" ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The primary would span from the social-democratic wing of the Socialist Party to the Gaullist right, with an open vote in late January or early February 2027 to designate a single candidate. Bayrou, a three-time presidential candidate and former mayor of Pau who supported Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and 2022, warned that without such a process, France risked what he called a "catastrophe": a second-round duel between Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen, which he described as "mortal for the nation." He argued that a single candidate carrying "all reformist democrats" was needed to prevent the extremes from facing each other in the runoff.

The crowded field

At least 30 politicians have already declared candidacy or primary intentions. On the right and centre, Edouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Bruno Retailleau, Dominique de Villepin and David Lisnard are already in the race. Xavier Bertrand, Gérald Darmanin, Michel Barnier and Elisabeth Borne are also weighing runs. Bayrou argued that none of these contenders can federate broadly enough, not even Philippe, who leads in the polls.

He defends his position, that's legitimate. But who carries the profound renewal that is expected?

In the polls, Marine Le Pen stands at 34-35% and Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 15%, his highest level heading into a presidential cycle. A Les Républicains deputy quoted by 20minutes said that if even two or three of the centre-right candidates ran, "we are dead."

Universal rejection

The proposal drew immediate and near-unanimous criticism across the political spectrum. A Renaissance deputy called it "nonsense" and said the primary "makes no sense," noting that the Socialist Party already struggles to organise a primary within its own ranks. Arthur Delaporte, PS deputy for Calvados and party spokesperson, dismissed the idea entirely.

It has no chance of existing. When he says there is what he calls 'the central river of democracy,' running from the Socialist Party to the Gaullists, to Bruno Retailleau, he is obviously mistaken. We are not going to agree with a space that has already shown that for ten years there has been a political attempt at a union of the centres that leads only to one thing: the union of the right and the right, and sometimes even affinities with the far right.

Othman Nasrou, secretary general of Les Républicains, ruled out any negotiation with Horizon or Renaissance, saying the French want "a real rupture" rather than backroom deals. Horizon confirmed its position was unchanged: there would be no primary, and Edouard Philippe would be the candidate.

Existing rival plans and next steps

Philippe and Attal had already indicated they would seek a "process of departure" before February, but Attal's primary idea has not convinced the mayor of Le Havre. On the right, Retailleau has insisted he will remain a candidate "until the end," despite internal doubts among LR officials. Bayrou predicted that without a broad agreement, the selection would happen by other means.

If it is not done through a broad agreement, because everyone is unreasonable, it will be done by break-in, by jostling.

He called on all would-be candidates to declare by September, calling the back-to-school period "the time of presentations," followed by "clarification and confrontation." The winner of his proposed primary would have "two full months of campaign," which he said was enough for a race that "plays out at the end, sometimes the last week."