In an effort to prevent the far-right leader Marine Le Pen from coming to power, the politician called for the creation of a new party.
Read more Fishing during the solar eclipse was impressive for the Kaunas resident: he caught a huge catfish
Former center-right Prime Minister E. Philippe, trying to mobilize supporters gathered in the northern city of Turkueno, said he wants to establish a new party or a coalition of parties. This should be done before the parliamentary elections, which will take place after the presidential elections scheduled for next spring.
With less than eight months remaining until the presidential elections in April–May, 58-year-old M. Le Pen is leading in the polls.
“There is a need to create a governing pact, a new party or a new confederation of parties that would allow everyone who wants to unite forces for the good of the country to govern together,” said the leader of the Horizons party.
“This means that one candidate will be nominated in each constituency,” explained 55-year-old E. Philippe.
According to him, such candidates should participate in the elections “under a common banner” so that after the voting it would be possible to form a parliamentary majority.
Read more Argentine goalkeeper’s debut for Chelsea – in a seven-goal match
Although E. Philippe remains the candidate with the best position on the right wing, the latest polls show that the controversially viewed far-left leader Jgali could become M. Le Pen’s main rival in the second round of elections. This raises doubts about E. Philippe’s chances of reaching the decisive stage.
According to commentators, the large number of candidates from the center, center-left, center-right, and right camps could split moderate voters’ votes in the first round.
On Sunday, E. Philippe further strengthened calls for a “political regrouping.”
“We must create a coalition of those who share the values to which we are fundamentally committed,” he said.
“Everyone who agrees with these simple ideas must unite so that France does not veer towards the so-called (far-left) ‘new France’ or towards M. Le Pen’s nationalist and identity-focused populism,” he said.
