Tensions within the central bloc: Édouard Philippe responds to criticism from Gabriel Attal

For more than a week, Gabriel Attal (Renaissance) has been sending barbs to Édouard Philippe (Horizons), his rival within the central block. In response to criticism from the thirty-year-old – who still accuses him of defending “ideas from 20 years ago” – the former prime minister responded on Sunday evening by proposing instead that the two candidates “direct their features towards their adversaries”. In other words, let them concentrate the attacks on the other camps in the presidential election, because the two candidates “will have to come together”. On Monday, Maud Bregeon, government spokesperson and supporter of Philippe, drove home the point, believing that “there is no longer a match” on the right and in the center.

At the end of June, the one who is also Deputy Minister responsible for Energy, announced her support for Édouard Philippe. The manager who wishes to “unite the right and the center” insists that her candidate “is the only one who can qualify for the second round”. And in substance calls on “all the political forces of the right, of the center” which are Gabriel Attal, the president of the Republicans (LR) Bruno Retailleau, the almost candidate Xavier Bertrand or even the leader of the LR deputies, Laurent Wauquiez, to line up behind the mayor of Le Havre. In an Elabe poll for BFMTV and La Tribune on Sunday, published on Saturday, Édouard Philippe is given between 17% and 20.5% of voting intentions ahead of Gabriel Attal, credited with 12%.