French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin held his first rally on Sunday, targeting working class voters and sparking speculation about the race to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. According to the constitution, Macron is ineligible for a third term, so potential candidates in the center-right camp, including Darmanin, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, are already positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential election.
Darmanin, a former conservative, known for his tough approach to protests, is making it increasingly clear that he has his eye on the next presidential election. He gathered around 100 lawmakers and a dozen cabinet colleagues in his constituency of Tourcoing, a working class town in France’s northern rust belt.
Darmanin, who is of Algerian descent, aims to appeal to working class voters who feel marginalized and believes that their concerns, if not addressed, could lead to far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s rise to power in 2027. In Tourcoing, Darmanin emphasized the importance of a politician’s willingness to listen, while also acknowledging the speculation surrounding his potential candidacy.
However, the initiative has caused irritation among some members of Macron’s entourage. Macron’s former top political adviser, Stephane Sejourne, emphasized the need for ideas over personal agendas when asked about Darmanin. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon suggested that the post-Macron era had begun with Darmanin’s rally. Eric Ciotti, the head of the conservative Les Républicains party, called for dignity and urged a focus on governing rather than succession.
Macron himself has not publicly endorsed a favorite successor. Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who is currently the mayor of Le Havre, remains popular and has not denied having presidential ambitions. Macron has scheduled talks with the heads of French political parties to discuss the next legislative agenda and seek allies to pass bills, given his loss of majority in parliament last year.
Macron has assigned Darmanin the task of securing the necessary votes in the lower house to pass a long-delayed bill aimed at reducing illegal immigration.
(Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Alison Williams)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
