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.
2 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
Philippe proposes adding capitalization component to French pay-as-you-go pension system
Édouard Philippe proposed complementing the French pension system's pay-as-you-go component with a capitalization component. He stated that all employees would be associated with capital appreciation through this addition, reconciling work and capital while benefiting everyone. Philippe indicated his desire for all French people to have access to a retirement savings plan, which he intended to make one of the most attractive investments on the market.
Philippe's pension reform includes exemptions for workers with difficult careers and health conditions
Under Philippe's proposed pension reform, retirement age would not change for people in poor health, remaining at 55 years for people with disabilities, 60 years for people with permanent incapacity, and 62 years for people in invalidity. Additionally, long-career provisions would allow early retirement for those who began working at a young age. Philippe emphasized that the reform would take into account people who began work very young, those in physically demanding professions, and those whose bodies have been worn down by work.
Édouard Philippe announces pension reform proposal raising retirement age to 65
Édouard Philippe, Horizons candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, announced a pension reform proposal in a video published on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The proposal aims to gradually increase the contribution period to 45 years and the legal retirement age to 65 years. Philippe stated that approximately one-third of French workers will be able to retire before age 65, between ages 60 and 64. The reform would resume the 2023 reform (suspended in 2025) and gradually increase the legal retirement age from the current 62 years and 9 months to 65 years within less than 10 years, while increasing the contribution period from 42.5 years to 45 years.
Philippe commits to returning pension system management to social partners after achieving balance
Philippe proposed that social partners (unions and employer organizations) would have a full role in defining the balance of the pension system. He committed that once the system is returned to balance, he would entrust its complete management to social partners, who would ensure its daily, responsible management through a golden rule of balance.
Mediapart reports antisemitic writings from Jordan Bardella dating to 2013
Mediapart published an investigation reporting antisemitic writings attributed to Jordan Bardella from 2013, when he was a young activist in the National Front (RN). According to the reports, Bardella wrote in a conversation: "The Jew must dominate other peoples, crush them and steal from them, a Zionist is necessarily Jewish, and fundamentally." The reports also allege that Bardella defended the existence of a supposed Jewish conspiracy aimed at controlling world order.
Marine Le Pen rejects allegations against Bardella as implausible
Marine Le Pen, candidate for the 2027 presidential election, rejected the allegations against Jordan Bardella as implausible. She stated that nobody can believe such claims and characterized them as obvious forgeries resulting from Mediapart's alleged tactics. Le Pen made these statements while campaigning at a construction industry professionals' trade show in Paris.
Jordan Bardella denies antisemitic writings as gross forgeries
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Front, formally contested the Mediapart allegations in an email response. He denied ever having made racist or antisemitic statements publicly or privately, orally or in writing. Bardella argued that the documents were gross forgeries and pointed out that he was not an active activist within the National Front during summer 2013 and was still a minor at the time.
Toluna-Harris Interactive poll shows Marine Le Pen leading 2027 presidential runoff scenarios
A Toluna-Harris Interactive poll conducted September 22-24, 2026 among 1,974 representative French respondents shows Marine Le Pen, National Rally (RN) parliamentary leader, polling at 57% against Édouard Philippe (Horizons) at 43% and 69% against Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France insoumise) at 31% in hypothetical second-round runoff scenarios for the 2027 presidential election.
Le Pen leads first-round presidential polling at 35-36 percent
According to the Toluna-Harris Interactive poll, Marine Le Pen is measured at between 35 and 36 percent of vote intention in first-round scenarios for the 2027 presidential election, establishing a dominant position among all tested candidates.
Glucksmann outpolls Hollande among social-democratic candidates
Raphaël Glucksmann (Place publique) polls at 10-11 percent while François Hollande (PS) polls at 7-8 percent in first-round scenarios, showing stronger support for Glucksmann as the social-democratic candidate.
Mélenchon polls second at 18 percent in first-round scenarios
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, candidate for La France insoumise, is measured at 18 percent of vote intention in first-round polling scenarios where either Raphaël Glucksmann or François Hollande represents the social-democratic left wing.
Minor candidates Zemmour, Tondelier, Roussel, Dupont-Aignan poll in single digits
Éric Zemmour (Reconquête) is measured at 5-6 percent, Marine Tondelier at 3-5 percent, Fabien Roussel at 2-3 percent, and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan at 2 percent in first-round scenarios.
Philippe polls at 16 percent in first-round presidential scenarios
Édouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre and Horizons candidate, is measured at 16 percent of vote intention in first-round polling when social-democratic candidates Glucksmann or Hollande are tested.
Retailleau (LR) polls at 8-10 percent depending on centrist candidate
Bruno Retailleau, Les Républicains candidate, is measured at 10 percent if Gabriel Attal represents the centrist bloc and 8-9 percent if Édouard Philippe represents it.
Attal polls lower than Philippe as centrist candidate option
Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister, is measured at 12-13 percent of first-round support, performing weaker than Édouard Philippe who polls at 16 percent when both are tested as centrist bloc representatives.
National Rally forms first-ever parliamentary group at French Senate
The National Rally (RN) established a parliamentary group at the French Senate for the first time, breaking the historical dominance of the right at the upper chamber. This occurred on September 27, 2026, during the presidential campaign.
De Villepin proposes point-based pension system with flexible retirement age
De Villepin outlined his pension reform proposal, which would replace the current system with a points-based retirement system. This system would allow individuals total freedom to choose their retirement age while maintaining fiscal balance. Social partners would set the point value based on life expectancy and by professional sector.
Dominique de Villepin announces plan to constitutionally enshrine social negotiation principle
Dominique de Villepin, quasi-candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, stated his intention to inscribe the principle of social negotiation into both law and the Constitution. He specifically proposed giving unions primacy in negotiation processes through a social charter. This announcement came during a radio interview on RTL-M6-Public-Sénat-Ouest-France.
De Villepin pledges full transparency regarding campaign financing
De Villepin stated that financing for his presidential candidacy would be subject to complete transparency, dismissing concerns about funding for his campaign.
De Villepin states he is seeking 500 endorsements required for presidential candidacy
De Villepin affirmed his intention to be a candidate in the 2027 presidential election and stated that he is actively seeking the 500 endorsements from elected officials required for candidacy. He characterized the political situation as complicated, noting that traditional political parties are reluctant to share endorsements, but expressed confidence that mayors and elected officials across France want a democratic election.
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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.