Macron gives France's centrist MPs their "freedom" back.

 

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Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has been actively campaigning across the north-eastern Alsace region, supporting his party’s MPs who are facing challenging re-election battles against far-right opponents on Sunday.

Horizons, the liberal conservative faction within Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance, is campaigning independently, with its materials omitting any mention of the president. Philippe is navigating a delicate balance between his loyalty to Macron and forging his own path in anticipation of the 2027 presidential election, when Macron’s term will end.

This balancing act has become “a lot simpler now” that the president called snap elections and ended the government, Philippe told the Financial Times during a campaign stop in Wissembourg, a picturesque town near the German border. “By definition, I’ve regained my complete freedom,” he said, expressing his ambition to build a broader majority that includes both centre-left and centre-right elements to replace the outgoing centrist administration.

Philippe remains one of France’s most popular politicians, even surpassing Marine Le Pen in a recent survey as the preferred candidate for the presidency. His supporters have asked Macron to stay out of the campaign, viewing him as an electoral liability.

The snap election has intensified the distancing process for Philippe and other presidential hopefuls such as Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament has sparked tensions within the governing coalition and has tarnished his political brand. Many allies believe the move was a colossal mistake, particularly with Le Pen’s party gaining momentum.

Philippe, now the mayor of Le Havre, has publicly disapproved of the decision, stating it caused “surprise, astonishment, sometimes anger.” He emphasized the need to build a different political structure, indicating that the new majority and government would not come from Macron.

Some of Macron’s allies disagree with Philippe’s stance. François Patriat, a veteran senator and early Macron supporter, believes that Macron should lead any coalition that needs to be built. However, Philippe’s reputation for quiet competence continues to resonate with voters in Alsace, despite his controversial handling of the 2018 gilets jaunes protests.

Philippe’s enduring appeal is evident among voters, but it may not be enough to secure victory for local MPs like Stéphanie Kochert, who faces a tough race against the far-right. Philippe himself is not running for a parliamentary seat, possibly signaling his anticipation of an electoral rout. He believes French voters want change and that repeating past strategies will not win them over.