Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe debated former President Francois Hollande in Sens on Saturday during a political summer conference broadcast on news channel LCI.
The meeting took place at the summer university of the Laboratoire pour la Republique, a political organization founded by Philippe. The event formed part of special coverage by LCI and TF1info as figures across French politics prepare for the 2027 presidential election.
Political stances and red lines
During the debate, Philippe set out clear political red lines for the upcoming presidential contest. He declared that he would never vote for a candidate running under the banner of the left-wing party La France Insoumise, nor would he support a candidate representing the far-right Rassemblement National.
Philippe also rejected a key immigration proposal put forward by one of his prominent supporters. He stated that he opposes a general moratorium on legal immigration into France, which had been requested by former interior minister Gerald Darmanin.
The conference appearance comes as Philippe works to strengthen his standing ahead of the 2027 election. Political commentator Christophe Barbier noted earlier this year that Philippe needed to re-energize his campaign as his momentum from his time as prime minister had begun to fade.
Broader presidential contest
The Sens debate formed part of a wider day of political activity across France on Saturday. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure also delivered a key address as left-wing groups evaluated their strategy for the 2027 campaign.
Other potential contenders clarified their intentions during appearances on LCI. Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that he is not a candidate for the presidency, while adding regarding American military support that France remains an ally but is non-aligned.
Cannes Mayor David Lisnard advocated for a primary election to unite the right and center-right. Speaking on LCI, Lisnard said a primary vote was necessary to narrow down the field and eliminate candidates before the national election.
Campaign landscape and polling
The debate took place against the backdrop of recent polling published by LCI on August 26. The barometer survey indicated that Rassemblement National leader Marine Le Pen would win the second round of the presidential election under all tested head-to-head scenarios.
Philippe continues to vie for leadership of the center-right against former prime minister Gabriel Attal. Darmanin previously backed Philippe, helping him build a lead over Attal, who was recently targeted by a pro-Russian disinformation campaign known as Matriochka.
LCI began its presidential debate series earlier in the week on August 27 with a session featuring seven declared candidates. That debate covered economic policy priorities, including taxation, employment, and pension reform.
