Overview

• LR sources report an agreement in principle that would avoid a head‑to‑head between Rachida Dati and Michel Barnier in Paris’s 2nd constituency.
• Under the reported deal, Barnier would be the party’s sole candidate in the September legislative by‑election.
• Rachida Dati would be free to assemble a 2026 Paris mayoral list with LR support, clarifying her path at City Hall.
• The by‑election is scheduled for September 21 and 28 in a district that includes part of the 7th arrondissement, where Dati is mayor.
• Bruno Retailleau led the mediation after weeks of escalating tensions, and the arrangement still depends on the investiture commission’s vote, with some deputies warning that a potential government confidence defeat could trigger a new dissolution and fresh campaigns.