Édouard Philippe Elevates Campaign With First Major Paris Meeting

Overview

• The campaign held its first major meeting at the Adidas Arena in Paris on Sunday, July 5, 2026, drawing roughly 4,000–5,000 people and unveiling the slogan "Croire en nous".
• Philippe framed his pitch around "efforts justes, partagés et étalés dans le temps," saying retirees should contribute more and some workers may need to work longer to shore up France’s social model.
• He promised a "refonte massive de l'école" built on universal tutoring that pairs personalized AI assistants with brigades of teachers, former teachers and volunteer students.
• The event showcased cross‑party backing from figures in Renaissance and LR, plus about a thousand elected officials, as Philippe seeks to broaden support inside the centre‑right space.
• Despite Philippe’s move to raise his profile, recent coverage and polls show the Rassemblement National widening its lead, leaving the central bloc under pressure ahead of 2027 and raising stakes for second‑round and legislative arithmetic.