PARIS — French presidential hopeful Edouard Philippe used his first major campaign rally in Paris on Sunday to launch a scathing attack on the National Rally, hitting the polls-leading far-right party as unprincipled and opportunistic.
Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of about 5,000, the center-right former prime minister slammed the National Rally for being “socialist in the north, liberal in the south. A self-proclaimed spokesperson for the working class in rural areas, yet a lover of petits fours in Monte Carlo. In favor of public spending and against taxes. In favor of the euro but against Europe.”
Philippe even managed to sneak in a dig at Emmanuel Macron while criticizing the National Rally, saying the far-right party embodied the president’s much-maligned refrain — “at the same time” — by trying to be two things at once without owning up to it.
While the 55-year-old delivered a wide-ranging speech that lasted over an hour, his blistering critique of the National Rally stood out given the tough week that lies ahead for the party.
Longtime leader Marine Le Pen’s appeal of an embezzlement conviction and election ban that knocked her out of next year’s presidential race concludes on Tuesday. If the court rules she can’t run, her 30-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella will become the far right’s standard-bearer.
In his remarks, Philippe derided the apparent discrepancy between Le Pen’s historic support for the French welfare state and Bardella’s more free-market views.
“Jordan Bardella has converted to capitalism, free-market economics, Europe and perhaps, we don’t know, pension reform. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is the opposite,” he said.
Polls suggest whoever represents the National Rally will be the front-runner in the 2027 election, but Philippe appears to be the candidate best placed to beat them.
On Sunday the former PM tried to present himself as a responsible conservative candidate who could beat the political extremes and put France on the right path by confronting hard truths head-on.
“People will tell you that my project is all about blood and tears,” Philippe said. “Let’s be serious. This isn’t about blood or tears. Maybe a little sweat, yes. Effort. Seriousness. Determination. And I want to be clear: I will ask for effort, but fair, shared effort, spread out over time.”
He went on to detail his ambitions for France on education, health and public finances, calling for a smaller and more nimble government. He also hinted at changes to France’s state pensions system, an explosive topic in the country.
In his remarks, Philippe derided the apparent discrepancy between Marine Le Pen’s historic support for the French welfare state and Jordan Bardella’s more free-market views. | Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images“I will not tax companies that are already taxed too much. And I will tell pensioners that they will need to contribute more to finance the social welfare system,” Philippe said. “I want a state focused on its mission: Protect its children, educate them, maintain order, put its accounts in order, secure pensions.”
Jump-starting the campaign
Philippe was under pressure at his first campaign rally to refute accusations that he was leading a lackluster presidential bid that could fail to make noise.
“He has been accused of being a bit cold. He is reserved,” said campaign spokesperson Arnaud Péricard ahead of the speech. “He is going to come out of his shell. He needs to do it so that the French vote for him.”
On stage in Paris Philippe struck a more personal cord, speaking about his family and his upbringing in the gritty port city of Le Havre, where he is now mayor. He also mentioned the skin disease vitiligo and hair loss that he suffered during his premiership.
“I tell all those … who have seen their bodies change, and who weren’t able to recognize themselves in the mirror … I tell them that they are not their illness,” he said.
“I tell them that I understand, and feeling that has made me a better person.”
Though opinion polls put him in second place behind either Bardella or Le Pen, Philippe doesn’t have much breathing room in the polls as he’s trailed by a crowded field of centrist and right-wing candidates. Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who now leads Macron’s political party Renaissance, and the leader of the conservative Les Républicains, Bruno Retailleau, have both declared their candidacies.
France’s presidential election advances to a two-person runoff if no candidate nets more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round. If Attal, Retailleau and Philippe are all on the ballot when voters head to the polls on April 18 next year, they could split the vote and end up with none of them advancing to the runoff.
Last week, however, Philippe secured the support of government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, who belongs to Attal’s party, along with signs of support from Les Républicains heavyweight Laurent Wauquiez.
“To all those who have joined us, I welcome you and let me say, you have made the right choice,” he said.