French Presidential Candidates Ramp Up Political Book Publications Ahead of 2026-2027 Election

As the 2027 French presidential election approaches, a notable wave of political book publications by candidates is underway, reflecting a longstanding tradition in French politics. Candidates including Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Gabriel Attal, Elisabeth Borne, and Edouard Philippe—with his upcoming book 'Le prix de nos mensonges'—are joining this trend which experts see as almost obligatory. Writing political books serves more to build public credibility and media presence than to guarantee electoral success, according to political analyst Christian Le Bart.

These books typically blend personal narratives with political agendas, from autobiographies to programmatic texts. Christelle Morançais, a prominent political figure and regional president, is set to publish her book 'Le courage de décider' in September 2026, focusing on helping France save money and block tax increases.

Sales figures for political books vary widely. Emmanuel Macron's 'Révolution' sold over 157,000 copies, while Marine Le Pen’s 'Pour que vive la France' sold only 8,293 copies. Historical evidence shows that bestsellers among political books do not necessarily translate into electoral victory, as seen with Eric Zemmour and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Ultimately, candidates view these publications as strategic tools to enhance visibility and credibility during the election campaign rather than as direct electoral campaigns in themselves.