Gérald Darmanin rules out 2027 presidential bid and endorses Édouard Philippe

Endorsement and withdrawal

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on 17 August 2026 that he will not stand in the 2027 presidential election. In an interview published by regional daily La Voix du Nord, the minister threw his backing behind former prime minister Édouard Philippe. Darmanin, who previously belonged to the UMP alongside Philippe before joining Emmanuel Macron's administration, stated that preventing fragmentation was his primary motivation. He emphasized his personal loyalty to Philippe, who first appointed him to the cabinet in May 2017. Darmanin also pointed to Philippe's governing record, noting that he had navigated the Yellow Vests protests of 2018 and the COVID pandemic during his tenure.

We are in an extremely difficult situation, with many difficult social issues for French people. Therefore I have decided not to create any further divisions, so I will not stand myself for the presidential election. I will back, and I hope that others do likewise, Edouard Philippe for the presidential election.

Dynamics within the central bloc

Philippe, who served as prime minister from May 2017 to July 2020 and currently serves as mayor of Le Havre, declared his presidential candidacy in 2024 under his Horizons party. He currently leads voting intention surveys among central bloc figures, ahead of Renaissance Secretary General Gabriel Attal. Both figures previously discussed rallying behind whichever candidate proved best positioned in early 2027. Within the cabinet, government spokeswoman Maud Bregon and Minister Delegate for Ecological Transition Mathieu Lefèvre had already endorsed Philippe. Darmanin, who had long weighed his own bid, stated that Philippe holds the experience required for the presidency.

I have a spirit of loyalty and Edouard Philippe is the one who allowed me to become a minister and I can assure that he is a man who has the qualities of a statesman, that he has experience in power and, by the way, he is the best placed.

Debates over primaries and electoral risks

The endorsement follows a proposal by MoDem leader François Bayrou to hold an open primary for reformist democrats. Bayrou cited several potential contenders, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. Darmanin acknowledged that substantial policy differences remain between himself and Philippe, while expressing regret over the absence of a right-and-center primary. In his remarks to La Voix du Nord, the justice minister warned that failing to agree on a single candidate by September creates a severe risk of a runoff between National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Political gathering in Tourcoing

Darmanin is scheduled to host his fourth annual political gathering on 30 August 2026 in his electoral stronghold of Tourcoing. Philippe is slated to attend the event alongside Darmanin, whose political group Populaires was put on hold when he remained in government in autumn 2025. Darmanin seeks to retain political weight within the campaign of the Le Havre mayor following scrutiny surrounding the Lyhanna affair. Two opinion polls published in July 2026 indicated that Le Pen could win the presidential race, even after an appeals court upheld an embezzlement verdict against her regarding European Union funds.