Édouard Philippe Launches New Party and Outlines Firm Stance Ahead of 2027 Elections

Édouard Philippe, the presidential candidate from the Horizons party, has unveiled plans to create a new political party designed to present unified candidates for the upcoming 2027 legislative elections, signaling a strategic approach to securing political cohesion and an absolute majority in the National Assembly.

Speaking at Gérald Darmanin's office, Philippe emphasized that his initiative aims to avoid replicating the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) experience exactly but draws inspiration from its successful model that supported Jacques Chirac in 2002. He announced the intention to invest in "unique candidates" per constituency, who will be bound by a "majority contract" to ensure accountability and a coherent legislative majority.

Philippe also articulated key policy positions tied to his presidential bid. Notably, he called for a much stricter immigration policy, asserting, "I want us to choose our immigration." He criticized Marine Le Pen’s proposals as fiscally irresponsible, describing her reform as "worsening the deficit," and characterized Jean-Luc Mélenchon as viewing immigrants primarily as "an electoral clientele."

Highlighting the critical importance of legislative support, Philippe stated that "without an absolute majority in the National Assembly, nothing great is possible," underscoring the link between his presidential ambitions and legislative strategy.

Gérald Darmanin, France’s Minister of Justice, loudly supports Philippe’s campaign, praising him as "the only person who can win the presidential election and have a majority in the National Assembly," and lauding his honesty and integrity.

With this dual approach—building a new party focused on unity and presenting firm policy stances—Philippe aims to strengthen his position for both the presidential and legislative contests, positioning himself as a central figure capable of rallying the center and right-wing sensibilities in France ahead of the 2027 elections.