Appearing on LCI Monday evening, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe reaffirmed his resolve to pursue his 2027 presidential candidacy to the end, while conditioning it on his re-election as mayor of Le Havre in March 2026. He also proposed creating a 'narco emergency state' to combat narcotrafficking with exceptional measures. These statements come as he rejects any right-wing primary and remains ahead in center-right polls.
Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, appearing on LCI on December 8, 2025, once again dismissed the idea of participating in a right-wing primary for the 2027 presidential election. Founder of the Horizons party in October 2021, he announced his candidacy in August 2024 and refuses any selection process. 'I didn’t create Horizons to hold a primary,' he stated. 'The country needs a good competition, a good public debate.'
Despite erosion in polls where he hovers between 15 and 19%, Philippe maintains a lead over his center and right-wing rivals, often qualifying for the second round against the National Rally, represented by Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella. He emphasizes his determination: 'That’s why I said it early' and 'I’m not saying I’ll win, but I’m preparing seriously'.
However, he conditions his continuation on re-election in the Le Havre municipal elections in March 2026, where he has been mayor since 2010. 'If I fail to convince the Havrais after being mayor since 2010, when they’ve known me for a long time and seen how the city has transformed, I won’t be in a good position to convince the French,' he confided. He added: 'We’ll see, but allow me not to put myself in a situation where I won’t win the election I’m running in'.
Additionally, addressing narcotrafficking, Philippe proposes a 'narco emergency state' limited in time and space, drawing from anti-terrorism measures. This would include administrative searches and accelerated asset confiscation. 'Criminal organizations suffer from it,' he explained. As mayor of Le Havre, he calls for more resources in ports, like in Germany, and severe penalties for mafia association, similar to Italy.