Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, now leader of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party Renaissance, is pressing ahead with his bid for the presidency despite growing skepticism within his own ranks. Attal, who has recently faced criticism over his political strategy and positioning, is determined to carve out an independent path, distancing himself from comparisons to his former mentor, Macron.
Attal’s frustrations have been evident since the contentious budget process in the Assemblée Nationale, particularly after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s decision to invoke Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the budget without a vote. Attal publicly condemned this maneuver as symptomatic of a “pathetic spectacle” and a lack of political direction, a situation he attributes to the fallout from the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024.
Despite these tensions, Attal is signaling that he is ready to lead the party into the next presidential election, emphasizing his desire to set a clear agenda for France’s future. Party insiders remain cautious, noting that Attal must balance his ambitions with maintaining unity among Renaissance lawmakers and broader centrist allies.
Observers suggest that Attal’s campaign will test his political acumen, as he seeks to establish himself not only as a successor to Macron but as a distinct voice capable of appealing to France’s electorate in a highly competitive presidential race. How he navigates internal dissent and public expectations in the coming months may prove decisive for his political future.
Source : Le Monde
