David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes who announced his 2027 presidential bid in January, resigned from Les Républicains on Tuesday after meeting party leader Bruno Retailleau. The decision follows his criticisms of the party's direction, including its budget stance and government ties.
Following his January candidacy announcement for the 2027 presidential election, David Lisnard met with Les Républicains leader Bruno Retailleau for about 40 minutes on Tuesday at party headquarters, per Le Figaro. He then submitted his resignation letter.
The meeting occurred one week after a Républicains political bureau vote on the 2027 presidential candidate selection process, which Lisnard opposed. As president of the Association of Mayors of France, he has criticized the party's support for the budget, LR ministers in government, and confidence in François Bayrou as prime minister. "These ambiguities are not acceptable thirteen months before a presidential election where we must carry a clear project," Lisnard said on France 2's '20 Heures' on Tuesday.
This resignation underscores deepening divisions within Les Républicains as the 2027 race intensifies.
