French election hopefuls reject Philippe alliance bid

Two French presidential hopefuls have rebuffed former prime minister Edouard Philippe’s call for right and centrist forces to discuss a possible alliance ahead of next year’s presidential election.

Philippe, who is seen as the candidate best placed to take on the far right, called Tuesday for talks in early November. “If we continue to divide ourselves, we will not win,” he told reporters.

Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who is competing with Philippe for centrist support, dismissed the proposal on Wednesday. “Before talking about unity, the priority is to tell the French what we want to offer them,” Attal told franceinfo. He said France needed “a real campaign in 2026”.

Bruno Retailleau, head of the right-wing Republicans, also rejected Philippe’s plan. Speaking to CNews on Tuesday, he said he would not attend a meeting he described as a gathering “for Macron supporters”.

“This election will not be won in the centre,” Retailleau said. “It will be won on the right. And I am a right-wing candidate, with right-wing convictions.”

Polls cited in the supplied material show far-right leader Marine Le Pen with her best chance yet of winning the Elysee Palace, as more than 30 declared or potential candidates from the left, centre and right compete for voters outside the far-right and hard-left camps.