“I learned from my mistakes”: this former minister has already announced that he is a candidate for the 2027 presidential election

Xavier Bertrand est candidat à l'élection présidentielle de 2027. (Illustration) MAXPPP – Richard Villalon

Xavier Bertrand, président du conseil régional des Hauts-de-France, a l'intention de se présenter à l'élection présidentielle de 2027 contre l'extrême droite, a-t-il déclaré samedi 3 février dans un entretien accordé à Ouest-France.

"Yes, I intend to. I haven't changed my ambition, he replied to the daily newspaper which questioned him on the subject. Former Minister of Health under the presidency of Jacques Chirac, then of Labor under that of Nicolas Sarkozy, Xavier Bertrand, 58, also claims to want to defend a "Republic of the territories" facing a government that is “too Parisian”.

The unsuccessful candidate in the right-wing primary for the 2022 presidential election, who subsequently launched his political movement called "Nous France", associated with the party The Republicans (LR), say they have "learned from their mistakes".

"It's way too early"

“Many today already think that 2027 will be Marine Le Pen's turn. Not me ! I am convinced that there is not a majority of fascists in our country but there is a majority of angry French people, he explains to Ouest-France. "I intend to answer it when the time comes. So no, in 2027, it will not be the turn of the extreme right."

Jean-Pierre Raffarin, historic executive of the UMP and LR figure, judged on LCI Saturday that it was "much too early" for Xavier Bertrand to make this announcement.

"We must succeed in overcoming this difficulty that we have in drawing up the second part of this five-year term. There are a certain number of reforms to be made, we have a relative majority, it's difficult, declared the former Prime Minister.

"Today, what should we do ? Five major reforms by the end of the five-year term. This is what we need to talk about, added Jean-Pierre Raffarin