Overview
- Hervé Morin launched a petition and told Édouard Philippe on Monday that Philippe would "bear a heavy responsibility" if he refuses to take part in a primary, and Morin said he will send candidates a participation charter.
- Morin said he will draft a charter setting conditions for entry that include a pro‑European stance, sound public finances, large-scale regionalisation, and a commitment to curb immigration.
- More than 200 elected officials initially backed Morin’s petition and he said five to seven million voters could take part in a right‑centre primary if organized.
- Édouard Philippe remains the polling frontrunner and has rejected a primary while government figures such as Maud Bregeon and supporters like Gérald Darmanin publicly back him, and Gabriel Attal has disputed that any candidate is already settled.
- The contest matters because it will shape whether the centre and right coalesce to try to block extreme matchups in 2027 and the next developments to watch are candidates’ formal replies to Morin’s charter and any moves to convene a vote.