Latest news with #Macronism
The Star
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
French minister Retailleau breaks with Macron as 2027 succession race heats up
PARIS (Reuters) -French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau delivered a stern rebuke of President Emmanuel Macron's political legacy in an interview published on Wednesday, breaking with his boss to stake his claim as his potential successor in the 2027 election. Less than two years before the end of Macron's second term, after which he can't immediately seek reelection, an increasingly crowded group of potential candidates to succeed the French leader is starting to emerge. Retailleau, a veteran conservative, has yet to declare his candidacy for 2027 but his comments to the right-wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine underline how likely presidential contenders are now trying to distance themselves from Macron's bruised political brand and carve out their own electoral niche. They also point to the fissures in France's weak minority government, a coalition of centrists and conservatives, that will likely widen as the presidential succession heats up. "Macronism will end with Emmanuel Macron, quite simply because it's neither a political movement nor an ideology: it essentially relies on one man," he was quoted as saying. A spokesperson for Macron declined to comment. Retailleau beat rivals in a leadership contest for the right-wing Republicans party in May, teeing him up for a potential presidential run. As the face of the government's push on rising drug crime and immigration, he has become one of France's most popular politicians. Retailleau has a 36% approval rating, according to a July Ipsos poll, compared with 24% for Macron. Retailleau's comments sparked a barrage of criticism from lawmakers in Macron's party. "Macronism is an ideology and a political party," Macron's former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, who hails from the left and is now education minister, posted on X. "Acting together requires mutual respect." Macron swept to power in 2017 at the head of his own movement which he said was "neither to the left nor the right". He implemented pro-European, pro-business policies once in power, but was seen as too pro-wealth for the left and not tough enough on crime and immigration for the right. As his popularity has fallen, his domination of the centre has pushed more French people to the political fringes. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party is now the largest single parliamentary party, and she and her right-hand man Jordan Bardella lead many polls for the 2027 election. Retailleau said there would be a return to a clear left-right divide once Macron's term ends. A source close to Retailleau, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the minister's comments were to be expected in a coalition government and that he had no plans to resign. He was set to meet Macron on Thursday for a previously scheduled chat. (Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; writing by Michel RoseEditing by Gabriel Stargardter and Sharon Singleton)
Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
French minister Retailleau breaks with Macron as 2027 succession race heats up
French President Emmanuel Macron and French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau attend an event at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/Pool/File Photo PARIS - French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau delivered a stern rebuke of President Emmanuel Macron's political legacy in an interview published on Wednesday, breaking with his boss to stake his claim as his potential successor in the 2027 election. Less than two years before the end of Macron's second term, after which he can't immediately seek reelection, an increasingly crowded group of potential candidates to succeed the French leader is starting to emerge. Retailleau, a veteran conservative, has yet to declare his candidacy for 2027 but his comments to the right-wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine underline how likely presidential contenders are now trying to distance themselves from Macron's bruised political brand and carve out their own electoral niche. They also point to the fissures in France's weak minority government, a coalition of centrists and conservatives, that will likely widen as the presidential succession heats up. "Macronism will end with Emmanuel Macron, quite simply because it's neither a political movement nor an ideology: it essentially relies on one man," he was quoted as saying. A spokesperson for Macron declined to comment. Retailleau beat rivals in a leadership contest for the right-wing Republicans party in May, teeing him up for a potential presidential run. As the face of the government's push on rising drug crime and immigration, he has become one of France's most popular politicians. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Singapore Money, housing and isolation the biggest struggles for youth leaving children's homes: Study Singapore Sota's parents portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Retailleau has a 36% approval rating, according to a July Ipsos poll, compared with 24% for Macron. Retailleau's comments sparked a barrage of criticism from lawmakers in Macron's party. "Macronism is an ideology and a political party," Macron's former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, who hails from the left and is now education minister, posted on X. "Acting together requires mutual respect." Macron swept to power in 2017 at the head of his own movement which he said was "neither to the left nor the right". He implemented pro-European, pro-business policies once in power, but was seen as too pro-wealth for the left and not tough enough on crime and immigration for the right. As his popularity has fallen, his domination of the centre has pushed more French people to the political fringes. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party is now the largest single parliamentary party, and she and her right-hand man Jordan Bardella lead many polls for the 2027 election. Retailleau said there would be a return to a clear left-right divide once Macron's term ends. A source close to Retailleau, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the minister's comments were to be expected in a coalition government and that he had no plans to resign. He was set to meet Macron on Thursday for a previously scheduled chat. REUTERS
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
French minister Retailleau breaks with Macron as 2027 succession race heats up
PARIS, July 23 (Reuters) - French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau delivered a stern rebuke of President Emmanuel Macron's political legacy in an interview published on Wednesday, breaking with his boss to stake his claim as his potential successor in the 2027 election. Less than two years before the end of Macron's second term, after which he can't immediately seek reelection, an increasingly crowded group of potential candidates to succeed the French leader is starting to emerge. Retailleau, a veteran conservative, has yet to declare his candidacy for 2027 but his comments to the right-wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine underline how likely presidential contenders are now trying to distance themselves from Macron's bruised political brand and carve out their own electoral niche. They also point to the fissures in France's weak minority government, a coalition of centrists and conservatives, that will likely widen as the presidential succession heats up. "Macronism will end with Emmanuel Macron, quite simply because it's neither a political movement nor an ideology: it essentially relies on one man," he was quoted as saying. A spokesperson for Macron declined to comment. Retailleau beat rivals in a leadership contest for the right-wing Republicans party in May, teeing him up for a potential presidential run. As the face of the government's push on rising drug crime and immigration, he has become one of France's most popular politicians. Retailleau has a 36% approval rating, according to a July Ipsos poll, compared with 24% for Macron. Retailleau's comments sparked a barrage of criticism from lawmakers in Macron's party. "Macronism is an ideology and a political party," Macron's former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, who hails from the left and is now education minister, posted on X. "Acting together requires mutual respect." Macron swept to power in 2017 at the head of his own movement which he said was "neither to the left nor the right". He implemented pro-European, pro-business policies once in power, but was seen as too pro-wealth for the left and not tough enough on crime and immigration for the right. As his popularity has fallen, his domination of the centre has pushed more French people to the political fringes. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party is now the largest single parliamentary party, and she and her right-hand man Jordan Bardella lead many polls for the 2027 election. Retailleau said there would be a return to a clear left-right divide once Macron's term ends. A source close to Retailleau, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the minister's comments were to be expected in a coalition government and that he had no plans to resign. He was set to meet Macron on Thursday for a previously scheduled chat.
LeMonde
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Will Macronism outlive Macron?
Euphoria can be a poor adviser. On May 20, two days after Bruno Retailleau's sweeping victory to lead France's conservative party (Les Républicains, LR), government spokesperson Sophie Primas, a member of LR herself, said: "Macronism will probably come to an end in the coming months, with the end of President Macron's second five-year term," provoking outrage among the most zealous Macron supporters. At the end of the following cabinet meeting, Primas, clearly embarrassed, requested a private conversation with the president. She didn't mean to say that Macronism was living out its final days, she told him, she simply wanted to remind people that its champion would not be able to run again in 2027, which would raise the question of "how to rebuild for the future." President Emmanuel Macron proved magnanimous: "We just have to be careful to maintain the balance within the government," which is made up of Macronists, centrists and conservatives.
Spectator
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Can France's centre-right be revived?
On Sunday, Bruno Retailleau was elected president of Les Republicains – France's mainstream centre-right party. Just a few years ago, his election would have drawn significant attention across Europe, as the rise of a new leader within a major European political force. Today, however, Les Republicains are the shadow of their former selves: a diminished political party on the right fighting for survival. In the 2022 presidential election, the party suffered a catastrophic result, receiving just 4.78 per cent of the vote – an all-time low for the party of De Gaulle, Chirac and Sarkozy. Today, polls show the party barely averaging 10 per cent support ahead of the 2027 presidential election, regardless of the candidate. Squeezed between Marine Le Pen's ascendant National Rally and the fading remnants of Macronism – and challenged on the right by the insurgent Éric Zemmour – Les Républicains struggle to find a viable path back to power. It has now been 13 years since they last held the Élysée. Retailleau faces a seemingly impossible task. A senator from Vendée, he is a seasoned local politician and skilled parliamentarian. He is also a capable orator, at least within the gilded and frescoed walls of the upper house of the French parliament. He
