French presidential candidate Retailleau calls for a primary election for a single candidate on the centre-right

According to local media reports, former Interior Minister and presidential candidate Retailleau sent a letter to the candidates of center-right political parties for the presidential election race.

In the letter he sent to Edouard Philippe, candidate of the Horizons Party, Gabriel Attal, candidate of President Emmanuel Macron's party Renaissance, and presidential candidate David Lisnard, who left LR and founded the New Energy Party, Retailleau called for a primary election for a single candidate on the centre-right.

Retailleau stated that they need to offer voters a strong alternative at a time when opinion polls show that the presidential race will be between National Rally (RN) party candidate Marine Le Pen and Unyielding France (LFI) party candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

On the other hand, Retailleau wanted the primaries in question to be held on January 31 and February 7.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has served two consecutive terms, will not be able to run again in the presidential elections to be held in France next year.

Public opinion surveys regarding the elections, whose first round is set for April 18 and the second round for May 2, show that the race will be between RN candidate Le Pen and LFI candidate Melenchon in the first round.

If no candidate receives 50 percent of the votes in the first round, the two candidates with the most votes will compete in the second round.