Le Pen confirmed as candidate; Bardella shifts to prime minister prospect
Le Pen confirmed as RN presidential candidate; Bardella pivots to prime minister prospect amid internal policy disagreements.
Event / Politics
French Presidential Election 2027
Coverage of the 2027 French presidential election campaign, including candidate announcements, policy positions, and political developments across the political spectrum.
5 reported locations
Daily activity
55 articles0 articles
2026-08-02 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 28 Mar, 12:07 UTC
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What happened
Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin opposed U.S. intervention in Iraq in February 2003
As Foreign Affairs Minister, Dominique de Villepin opposed the United States intervention in Iraq in February 2003, refusing American pressure to support the military action.
Dominique de Villepin leads political party La France humaniste with 60,000 members
Dominique de Villepin leads La France humaniste, a political party with 60,000 members, and oversees circles across France. He also leads a youth movement with over 100,000 followers on Instagram.
Dominique de Villepin served as Prime Minister under Jacques Chirac from 2005 to 2007
Dominique de Villepin served as Prime Minister of France under President Jacques Chirac during the period from 2005 to 2007.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Raphaël Glucksmann tie in French presidential polling
In Opinionway's polling for the 2027 French presidential first round, Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France insoumise and Raphaël Glucksmann of Place publique ran closely in all three tested scenarios. Mélenchon polled at 13% while Glucksmann polled at 13-14%, depending on the configuration. Glucksmann held a meeting in Paris on Saturday to rally his supporters.
RN appeals court decision on parliamentary assistants pending
An appeals court decision by the Paris Court of Appeal regarding the National Rally's alleged misuse of European parliamentary assistants is expected within approximately three weeks of the polling period. This legal proceeding influenced Opinionway's decision to test an unspecified RN candidate (Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella) in their presidential polling scenarios.
Édouard Philippe polls as centrist bloc candidate in French presidential scenarios
In Opinionway's polling, Édouard Philippe was tested as a potential unified candidate of the centrist bloc in the 2027 French presidential election. He polled at 19% support across multiple scenarios, positioned as the main competitor to the RN after the leading candidate.
Gabriel Attal tested as Renaissance candidate in French presidential polling
Opinionway tested Renaissance party secretary general Gabriel Attal as a potential centrist bloc candidate in one polling scenario for the 2027 French presidential election. He polled at 13-14%, similar to Mélenchon and Glucksmann but substantially behind the RN at 35%.
Opinionway poll shows RN leading 2027 French presidential race
An Opinionway poll conducted June 10-11 tested three scenarios for the 2027 French presidential election first round. In all scenarios, the National Rally (RN) candidate led significantly, polling at 33-35% depending on the configuration tested. The poll surveyed 901 registered voters from a representative sample of 1,001 French citizens aged 18+, with a margin of error of 1.4-3.3 percentage points.
Socialist mayor Karim Bouamrane announces 2027 French presidential candidacy
Karim Bouamrane, Socialist Party (PS) mayor of Saint-Ouen, announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election on France Inter radio. He stated 'I am a candidate to be the next president of the Republic' and positioned himself as a unifying candidate for the non-Mélenchonist left.
Karim Bouamrane announces candidacy for 2027 French presidential election
Karim Bouamrane, mayor of Saint-Ouen and member of the Socialist Party, announced on June 9, 2026 that he would run as a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election. He positioned himself as a unifying candidate for the non-Mélenchonist left, describing himself as "anchored in reality" and focused on creating a "humane, strong France that protects, secures, and provides healthcare, housing, and quality education."
Multiple Socialist candidates competing for left-wing presidential nomination
In addition to Bouamrane's candidacy announcement, other Socialist and center-left figures have declared or are considering presidential bids for 2027, including Raphaël Glucksmann (who was considering his decision), François Hollande, Bernard Cazeneuve, and Jérôme Guedj. The Socialist Party was planning a members' vote in early summer to determine its electoral strategy.
Karim Bouamrane rejects left-wing primary, opposes Mélenchon and Bardella
Bouamrane stated he would not participate in a left-wing primary, claiming that discussions on the ground focus on issues like housing and dignity rather than primaries. He expressed opposition to what he called a "dilemma" of a runoff between Rassemblement National candidate Jordan Bardella and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, treating the two as equivalent threats and rejecting this as inevitable.
Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux and Goncourt Prize winner Éric Vuillard appear at Mélenchon rally
Writers Annie Ernaux, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022, and Éric Vuillard, who won the Goncourt Prize in 2017, were scheduled to speak at Mélenchon's campaign rally in Saint-Denis.
Mélenchon polling at 13-15 percent for first round of 2027 election
Polling data showed Jean-Luc Mélenchon receiving between 13 and 15 percent of intended votes in the first round of the 2027 French presidential election. Some polls placed him near the threshold to reach the second round.
Bally Bagayoko elected mayor of Saint-Denis in surprise first-round victory
Bally Bagayoko, representing La France insoumise, won a surprise first-round victory in the recent municipal elections to become mayor of Saint-Denis. He has since become a visible and popular figure within the party.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon officially announces 2027 presidential candidacy
Jean-Luc Mélenchon officially announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election in early May. This marked the formal start of his campaign, which he described as 'our thing is squared' (nous, c'est carré).
Socialist Party proposes double primary system for left-wing candidate selection
The Socialist Party proposed a double primary process to resolve divisions within the left: first among social-democratic parties, then with the broader left excluding Mélenchon. This proposal was designed to unify left-wing candidates despite differing approaches.
Green Party stalled on primary participation due to Socialist Party and Glucksmann refusal
Under the leadership of Marine Tondelier, the Green Party remained engaged in a primary process to select a left-wing presidential candidate, but progress stalled due to refusal by parts of the Socialist Party and Raphaël Glucksmann to participate fully.
Paris Court of Appeals scheduled to rule on RN parliamentary assistants affair affecting 2027 candidacy
The Paris Court of Appeals was scheduled to decide on July 7 in the case involving National Rally parliamentary assistants, a ruling that would determine whether Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella could proceed with their 2027 presidential candidacies.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon holds first campaign rally in Saint-Denis
Jean-Luc Mélenchon held his first campaign rally on Sunday in Saint-Denis, a major suburb of Paris. The outdoor rally took place at Place Victor Hugo at 3:30 PM, with at least 10,000 attendees expected. The location was chosen symbolically, situated between the town hall led by Bally Bagayoko and the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
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2 alternative perspectives
Le Pen announces 2027 candidacy after court upholds conviction
Le Pen announces 2027 candidacy after conviction upheld but eligibility preserved; cassation appeal pending.
Le Pen announces 2027 candidacy despite court conviction
Le Pen announces 2027 candidacy after court conviction but maintains eligibility through successful appeal challenge.
Le Pen defies conviction, secures 2027 candidacy confirmation
Le Pen convicted but eligible; confirmed as RN's 2027 presidential candidate alongside Bardella.
Court upholds Le Pen conviction, confirms her 2027 eligibility
Court upholds Le Pen's conviction but confirms her 2027 eligibility, formalizing her RN candidacy.
Appeals court to rule on Le Pen's eligibility as Bardella signals succession readiness
Court ruling on Le Pen's 2027 eligibility could trigger succession to Bardella as RN's presidential candidate.
Paris court to rule on Le Pen's 2027 eligibility in July hearing
Paris court will rule on Le Pen's five-year ineligibility in RN parliamentary funds case, with Bardella positioned as potential replacement.
French court to rule on Le Pen's 2027 eligibility in July
French court rules July 7 on Le Pen's 2027 eligibility amid National Rally's commanding polling lead.
Philippe launches campaign platform with school and pension reforms
Philippe launches campaign with school reform platform, secured ministerial support, targets far-left and far-right opponents.
Communist Party affirms independent 2027 candidacy with Roussel reelected
Communist Party reaffirms 2027 candidacy despite internal divisions over Roussel's leadership.
De Villepin leads centrist party ahead of 2027 race
De Villepin leads centrist party La France humaniste with 60,000 members for 2027 presidential race.
RN appeals court ruling on parliamentary assistants case pending
RN faces potential candidacy restrictions from pending appeals court ruling on parliamentary assistants case.