Former French PMs Philippe and Attal favoured centrist candidates for next presidential election -poll

"Besoin d'Europe" political rally to launch the campaign of the French presidential majority for the European elections, in Lille

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attend a political rally named "Besoin d'Europe" to launch the campaign of the French presidential majority for the European elections in Lille, France, March 9, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Source: REUTERS

Former French Prime Ministers Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal are the favoured candidates to lead the centrist challenge in next year's presidential election, said an Elabe/BFM TV poll on Wednesday.

The centrist French political bloc close to President Emmanuel Macron lost its grip in the lower house of parliament after Macron called a snap parliamentary election in 2024, and it has faced unyielding pressure from both the far-right National Rally (RN) and far-left France Unbowed (LFI) parties.

Philippe - Macron's first prime minister - has consistently portrayed himself as a 2027 presidential candidate.

He has also increasingly criticised Macron in recent years, as Macron's attempts to get a budget through parliament has faced consistent challenges from opposition parties.

The Elabe/BFM TV poll added that former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau was seen as the favoured candidate from the traditional, conservative right-wing camp for the 2027 election.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters