Former PM emerges as Le Pen’s top rival for 2027 French presidency

Former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is emerging as the strongest potential challenger to far-right leader Marine Le Pen in France's 2027 presidential election, recent polling data shows.

The surveys suggest that Le Pen would finish first in the first round of voting and would defeat all currently tested rivals in a runoff, according to BFMTV.

The narrowest margin, however, is against Philippe. In a hypothetical second-round contest, Le Pen would receive 52% of the vote, compared with 48% for Philippe.

Other potential contenders include Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France Insoumise, Bruno Retailleau of The Republicans, and Raphaël Glucksmann of Place Publique, as well as former prime ministers under President Emmanuel Macron — Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe.

By Jeyhun Aghazada