Renaissance's executive board approved a report on Monday favoring Gabriel Attal as the natural presidential candidate. The national council will decide on May 12 between direct designation and an internal primary. Insiders view the primary as highly unlikely.
Gathered Monday evening, Renaissance's executive board, now controlled by former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, approved a report on designating the presidential candidate. Prepared by Jean-Marc Borello and Bariza Khiari, it highlights a «clear rejection of a competitive primary» and a «clear trend» toward Attal.
Jean-Marc Borello summarized the choices: «Either we consider the general secretary the natural candidate, or we organize internal primaries.» The board referred the decision to the national council, described as the party's «parliament», with 60 votes in favor out of 63. Three abstentions: Yaël Braun-Pivet, Guillaume Gouffier Valente, and Aurore Bergé.
The national council, chaired by Élisabeth Borne who was absent from the executive board, will meet on May 12. Internal opponents decry a rigged process. «Attal appointed most national council members. So he's asking those he appointed if they agree he's the candidate. We've become LFI!», grumbled one participant.
A deputy present countered: «It's in line with the statutes and the logic of a party under the Fifth Republic.» Whatever the choice, it will be submitted to members for approval. If confirmed in May, Attal would hold his planned May 30 meeting at Porte de Versailles in Paris as the official candidate.
