Interior minister takes helm of French conservatives

Bruno Retailleau, currently serving as France's interior minister, was elected on Sunday as the new head of the center-right party The Republicans, or LR.

In an internal vote held on Sunday at the party's national headquarters in Paris, Retailleau won a commanding 74.2 percent of support among party members, defeating his rival Laurent Wauquiez, who secured just 25.8 percent.

This victory not only cements Retailleau's authority within the party but also positions him as a potential challenger to President Emmanuel Macron's political legacy, and analysts say the result underscores a broader reconfiguration of the French right.

LR and the political movements that came before it once dominated French politics, producing two presidents — Jacques Chirac (1995-2007) and Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-12). But since Macron's rise to power in 2017, the party has suffered repeated election defeats and lost its central role in national politics.

Retailleau's appointment is seen as a turning point. He joined the cabinet last year after LR formed a surprise alliance with Macron's centrist bloc to create a minority government, marking its first time in power in several years.

Now, Retailleau wants to rebuild the party's base ahead of the next round of municipal elections in March 2026. Speaking after his victory, he called for unity among members.

An opinion poll published on Wednesday showed Retailleau with 16 percent support in a hypothetical first round of the 2027 presidential election. This places him within five points of former prime minister Edouard Philippe of the center-right Horizons party, one of the current favorites to reach the second round. The results mark a major jump for LR compared to their most recent presidential candidate, Valerie Pecresse.

Still, not everyone is pleased with the party's new direction. Speaking on public service broadcaster FranceInfo on Tuesday, former prime minister Dominique de Villepin criticized Retailleau's rhetoric.

"The evolution of this party that we once called the Republican right is now a reactionary, ultraconservative right, competing with the National Rally," he said.

Dual role

Retailleau's choice to remain interior minister while leading the party has caused concern. During the campaign, Wauquiez argued that holding both roles would prevent Retailleau from effectively challenging Macron's policies. In response, Retailleau has stressed he is not aligned with Macron and believes the president's influence will disappear after 2027. His statement has reportedly angered some members of the government.

However, current government spokeswoman Sophie Primas, also a member of the party, defended his decision on BFMTV on May 16. "He is committed to both roles and will manage them responsibly," she said.

Retailleau's rise comes at a moment of major change in French politics.

Macron cannot run for the presidency again due to term limits, and Marine Le Pen, a leading figure in the far-right National Rally, may face legal issues that could affect her possible candidacy.

This creates a rare opportunity for new leadership on the right. With a clear majority inside LR and rising popularity, Retailleau is now a serious contender.

Experts say it remains uncertain whether Retailleau can unify the fractured right and mount a viable presidential challenge in 2027. For now, however, he has firmly captured the political spotlight.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.