Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, declares his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election and releases a book to shape his image. At 60 years old, he embodies a firm stance against the far right. He criticizes any alliance with the Rassemblement National within Les Républicains.
Xavier Bertrand long resisted writing a book, a near-obligatory tradition for those aiming for the Élysée Palace. “I am more comfortable speaking than writing,” he admits. At 60 years old, the president of the Hauts-de-France region has taken up the challenge with the publication of Nothing Is Ever Written (Robert Laffont, 408 pages, 21.90 euros).
In recent days, he has promoted his book on television and radio shows, but avoided Bolloré-owned media. “I am not the kind of beauty for those who want a union of the right with the far right,” states the former minister under Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy in an interview with Le Monde.
Already declared as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election, Xavier Bertrand seeks to impose a clear line within Les Républicains (LR). He aims to counter calls for an alliance with the Rassemblement National (RN). On Monday, November 3, he wrote to Bruno Retailleau, LR president, asking him to “clarify” the party’s stance. “Can he say like me, neither LFI [La France Insoumise] nor RN?” he questions.
Recently, Bertrand notes that Retailleau portrays La France Insoumise as an absolute repellent but appears more wavering on republican support regarding the RN. This book launch provides Bertrand an opportunity to bolster his image of intransigence against the far right.