Presidential 2027: Without being a candidate for the Élysée, Lagarde does better than Philippe in a survey
A Cluster 17 survey for Politico places the former minister ahead of Édouard Philippe in the central space, although it ruled out a candidacy.
Quick Look
- A Cluster 17 poll for Politico credits Christine Lagarde with 14% of voting intentions in the 2027 presidential election, ahead of Édouard Philippe (13.5%), if she goes for it.
- Marine Le Pen remains in the lead with 30.5%, followed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 20.5%.
- Lagarde, however, said a candidacy would be “not a good idea at all”.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The article discusses the French presidential election of 2027 and the possible entry into the race of Christine Lagarde, who is leaving the presidency of the ECB at the beginning of February. She had already ruled out a candidacy in September in an interview with La Croix.
After the latest candidacy, that of Teddy Riner, will the list of contenders for the Élysée grow even longer? A Cluster 17 survey for Politico published on Wednesday could indeed give ideas to Christine Lagarde.
“Very strong liquidity in the central space”
Nicolas Sarkozy's former Minister of the Economy, who will leave the presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB) at the beginning of February, collects 14% of voting intentions, thus narrowly ahead of Édouard Philippe if she launches into the race for the Élysée, according to this poll. Until now, it had never been tested by a polling institute.
In a scenario where she replaced Horizons candidate Édouard Philippe, she would receive 14% of voting intentions against the same opponents, compared to 13.5% for the mayor of Le Havre. “It is rather well received by central voters,” notes Jean-Yves Dormagen, president of the Cluster 17 institute. But “all this confirms the very strong liquidity of the central space,” he adds.
In this hypothesis, Jean-Luc Mélenchon exceeds 20% for the first time (20.5%), still far behind Marine Le Pen (30.5%).
Lagarde does not see himself in the race
At the end of September, Christine Lagarde assured in an interview with the newspaper La Croix that a presidential candidacy would not be “at all a good idea”. “First there is a question of vitality, energy, strength. There is also a sense of inevitable sacrifice in this type of commitment. And I’m 70 years old…”
Follow the 2027 Presidential Election
In the scenario where Édouard Philippe remains the center candidate, the former Prime Minister shows a decline compared to the end of October (13.5% against 16%), according to the poll. Bruno Retailleau (LR), supporter of a primary to decide between the candidate of the right and the center, lost 2 points to 5%. And David Lisnard, mayor of Cannes, receives 10% of voting intentions, whether facing Christine Lagarde, Édouard Philippe or Gabriel Attal.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Christine Lagarde will not be a candidate for the 2027 presidential election
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Christine Lagarde change her mind and finally enter the race?
- What impact would his candidacy have on the other candidates in the central space?
- Who will be the official candidate of the right and the center if a primary is organized?
