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20h ago

Bruno Retailleau Secures Leadership of France’s Conservative Les Républicains

The French interior minister won 74% of the vote in a party election, solidifying his position as a key contender for the 2027 presidential race.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau speaks during an end-of-campaign rally for the presidency of the Les Republicains (LR) party in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris, France, May 11, 2025. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo
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Members of the Republican party have been casting their ballots all weekend to elect either Bruno Retailleau (L), France's interior minister, or the party's parliamentary boss, Laurent Wauquiez (R), as their chief

Overview

  • Bruno Retailleau, France's interior minister, was elected leader of Les Républicains with 74% of the vote, defeating parliamentary leader Laurent Wauquiez, who garnered 25%.
  • Retailleau plans to retain his role as interior minister while leading the party, emphasizing a hardline stance on immigration and crime policies.
  • Les Républicains, once a dominant force in French politics, has seen its membership triple to over 120,000 ahead of the leadership vote, signaling a potential revival.
  • The party aims to challenge the far-right National Rally in the 2027 presidential election, as Marine Le Pen’s legal troubles create uncertainty around her candidacy.
  • Retailleau’s leadership marks a strategic shift to reclaim right-wing voters as the party seeks to recover from its diminished presence in the National Assembly, where it holds just 60 seats.