Bruno Retailleau’s bid for the leadership of Les Républicains has sparked a backlash from party president Laurent Wauquiez setting the stage for a high-stakes battle on France's conservative right.
France's Minister of the Intertior, Bruno Retailleau, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the presidency of Les Républicans (LR) party – aiming to follow in the footsteps of Nicolas Sarkozy, who used the same strategy to secure the French presidency in 2007.
However, his move sets the stage for a potential showdown with LR president Laurent Wauquiez, igniting fresh tensions on the right.
With strong poll numbers backing him since his appointment as interior minister in September, Retailleau chose to break the news on Wednesday through a heartfelt letter to party activists.
And these activists will play a crucial role in electing the next party leader during an upcoming Républicains congress this spring.
Posting on X, Retailleau wrote: "I invite each of you to join me, to build this great movement of hope that the right must embody, for the French people we serve and for the France we love. Because that is the vocation of the Gaullists and patriots that we are".
Riding high on a wave of recent LR victories in local and by-elections, Retailleau’s allies see his role in government as a key factor in these wins.
Now, he’s ramping up his campaign just ahead of a political bureau meeting of the party next Monday, where the congress date will be finalised.
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'War of the chiefs'
Retailleau’s leadership is bid isn’t without risks, as a brewing rivalry with LR president Wauquiez threatens to escalate into what some fear could be a "war of the chiefs".
Just last week, Wauquiez met with Retailleau over dinner at the Interior Minister's official residence at Hotel Beauvau, reminding him of their supposed "agreement" – Retailleau would be the face of the right in government, while Wauquiez would rebuild the party.
"You lead in government, I rebuild our political family," Wauquiez reportedly told him, making it clear that he has his own ambitions for 2027, using the party presidency as a launchpad for a presidential run.
Wauquiez’s camp wasted no time in criticising Retailleau’s announcement, accusing him of fueling an unnecessary leadership battle.
But Retailleau quickly countered in his letter: "I don’t want more divisions or fresh wounds in our party".
He has insisted he would steer clear of media-driven sound bites and, in an interview with France Inter, argued that "voting is not the same as dividing".
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Return of Les Républicains
With momentum on his side, Retailleau has garnered support from major right-wing figures including former Prime Minister Michel Barnier and Louis Sarkozy, son of the former president.
The manoeuvring within the France's traditional right comes as the political landscape remains turbulent following President Macron's decision to call snap legislative elections last summer.
The move – that was as a high-stakes gamble to regain parliamentary control – led to a fractured National Assembly and deepened divisions between parties.
Now, Les Républicains find themselves in a key position in Prime Minister Fraçois Bayrou's newly formed, right-leaning coalition government.
(With newswires)
