Éric Zemmour confirms 2027 French presidential bid and outlines remigration platform

Candidacy announcement on television

Reconquête president Éric Zemmour announced on 17 September 2026 that he will seek the French presidency in 2027 during an appearance on the BFMTV programme Face à BFM. The 68-year-old former journalist ended internal party speculation by confirming that he, rather than Member of the European Parliament Sarah Knafo, will head the Reconquête ticket.

I am a candidate for the presidency of the Republic, I will be a candidate in the presidential election.

While Zemmour characterized his announcement as part of an active candidacy process, his campaign team indicated that a formal declaration will follow later in autumn, likely in October. Reflecting on his 2022 presidential campaign where he finished fourth in the first round with 7.07% of the vote, Zemmour described that result as a disappointment compared to early polling but notable for a political newcomer. He stated that his first campaign lacked party infrastructure, signatures, and a prepared program, whereas Reconquête has spent the past year building a local network and drafting policy measures. Knafo, who is also Zemmour's partner, will campaign alongside him in what he called a coherent political partnership.

Remigration and immigration proposals

Zemmour placed remigration at the center of his 2027 platform, advocating for the active expulsion of multiple categories of foreign nationals from France. He called for the removal of all foreign inmates, asserting that they account for 25% of the French prison population. The proposed expulsions would also apply to foreign offenders outside prison walls, including individuals serving sentences under electronic surveillance or assigned to community service.

Beyond convicted individuals, Zemmour outlined deportation measures targeting irregular migrants, people reliant entirely on social welfare, and long-term unemployed foreigners. He established a one-year threshold of unemployment after which foreign nationals, including those holding legal residency status, would face mandatory expulsion. To address workforce demands without immigration, Zemmour pointed to technological automation. He reiterated arguments from a Sunday rally in Yvelines, asserting that advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics can replace immigrant labor in the French economy.

Fiscal platform and spending reductions

On economic policy, Zemmour criticized fiscal measures presented earlier on 17 September by government official Sébastien Lecornu. Lecornu had outlined a plan targeting 54 billion euros in state and social security savings for the 2027 fiscal year. Zemmour dismissed that plan as inadequate patchwork designed only to counter 39 billion euros in spending increases accumulated from debt across the prior two presidential terms.

Zemmour presented an alternative financial plan developed with Knafo, targeting 140 billion euros in public spending reductions over a five-year mandate. The proposed cuts include eliminating personalized housing assistance (APL) for foreign nationals and eliminating 800,000 public sector positions over five years. During the evening broadcast, Zemmour also defended his fiscal and social platform in a direct televised debate against Jean-François Copé, addressing issues ranging from fuel prices to public debt.