Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has been actively campaigning in the north-eastern Alsace region, supporting his party’s MPs in their re-election battles against far-right opponents. As the leader of Horizons, the liberal conservative wing of Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance, Philippe is now campaigning under his own banner, with no mention of the president on his party’s leaflets.
Philippe is navigating a delicate balance between loyalty to Macron and forging his own path ahead of the 2027 presidential election, when Macron’s final term will end. This balancing act has become “a lot simpler now” following Macron’s snap elections and the dissolution of the government, Philippe told the Financial Times during a campaign stop in Wissembourg, near the German border. “By definition, I’ve regained my complete freedom,” he said, expressing his ambition to build a broader majority that spans centre-left and centre-right to replace the outgoing centrist administration.
Philippe remains one of France’s most popular politicians, recently ranked as the preferred candidate for president over Marine Le Pen, the far-right Rassemblement National leader. Other presidential hopefuls, such as Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, are also beginning to distance themselves from Macron as 2027 approaches, with the snap election accelerating this process.
The snap election reflects the tensions within the governing coalition triggered by Macron’s unexpected decision to dissolve parliament. Many of Macron’s allies see the move as a mistake, given Le Pen’s recent victories and the opportunity for her party to gain further credibility. Macron justified the decision as a necessary measure to address France’s political “fever.”
Philippe, currently the mayor of Le Havre, has been vocal in his disapproval of Macron’s decision, stating it caused “surprise, astonishment, sometimes anger.” He criticized Macron for acting alone in dissolving parliament, asserting the need to build a new political framework.
Philippe’s supporters view Macron as an electoral liability. “If you say voting for one of Edouard Philippe’s candidates is voting for Emmanuel Macron, there is an immediate rejection,” said one ally. Philippe predicts a new political era where the president no longer controls the government, assuming a different institutional role.
Prime Minister Attal, leading Macron’s Ensemble alliance campaign, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that France might become a “more parliamentary system.” He noted that for the first time in two decades, the premier would have a mandate from the people, unlike the usual process where legislative elections follow the presidential ballot.
Philippe confirmed that he asked Macron to stay out of the election campaign, emphasizing the importance of the president remaining above the political fray to protect the presidency from the consequences of potential defeat. However, not everyone in Macron’s camp agrees. François Patriat, a veteran senator and early Macron supporter, insisted that Macron must lead any future coalition.
Despite criticism from some quarters, including being blamed for inflexibility during the 2018 gilets jaunes protests, Philippe’s reputation for quiet competence endures among many voters. In Alsace, he retains the respect and confidence of locals, though he acknowledges the challenging electoral landscape.
Philippe is not running for a parliamentary seat himself, possibly indicating his concerns about an electoral rout. He believes French voters desire change, not a reiteration of past policies. “I don’t think we can win saying: ‘We’ll do exactly the same things as before, you have not properly understood us,’” he said.
As France prepares for this new political era, Philippe and other centrist politicians are redefining their paths in a landscape no longer dominated by Macron.
