Overview
- The presidential party formally endorsed Horizons candidate Pierre-Yves Bournazel on Tuesday, opting against Culture Minister and LR contender Rachida Dati.
- Bournazel presents himself as independent of party machinery and says he is running to unite and calm political tensions in Paris.
- Dati rejects the decision, pledges to continue her campaign, and rebukes Gabriel Attal, saying he must explain his choice to Parisians.
- Several prominent Macronists, including Aurore Bergé, Sylvain Maillard and Benjamin Haddad, are publicly sticking with Dati despite the party line.
- Attal cites a broader deal with Horizons in cities such as Annecy, Lille, Bordeaux and Dijon, while reporting highlights internal grievances toward Dati and suggests the endorsement is reshaping the center-right field ahead of March 2026.