The Republicans' political bureau voted on Tuesday to consult members on April 18 about selecting their 2027 presidential candidate. Party president Bruno Retailleau defends the move amid internal criticisms. Laurent Wauquiez was absent from the meeting.
On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the political bureau of Les Républicains (LR), chaired by Bruno Retailleau, nearly unanimously adopted a resolution to consult party members on April 18 regarding the process for selecting the LR candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Retailleau defended the decision in a Figaro interview, emphasizing transparency and democracy. 'The criticisms were marginal: the political bureau adopted almost unanimously the choice to consult the members. The rare complaints were motivated by personal ambitions,' he stated, rejecting past opacity in the party. He noted having enshrined these requirements in LR statutes after a commitment to militants. David Lisnard called the vote 'rigged,' a claim Retailleau dismissed as 'a pretext to justify an adventure.' Meanwhile, Laurent Wauquiez, MP for Haute-Loire and a right-wing figure, did not attend the meeting despite being invited. On RTL that morning, he called for rallying behind a single right-wing candidacy, from Édouard Philippe to Sarah Knafo, via a broad primary. His absence highlights internal divisions, as the working group on selection methods, led by Gérard Larcher and Roger Karoutchi, delivered its conclusions. Retailleau stresses a democratic approach to avoid internal deals.
