France’s Republicans Hold Member Vote on How to Pick 2027 Candidate

Overview

• LR members, who began voting Saturday and finish Sunday at 6 p.m., are choosing between a June primary limited to members, a semi-open primary that adds sympathizers, or the direct designation of Bruno Retailleau.
• Retailleau declared his bid in February and is seeking a show of strength from the party’s grassroots to relaunch his campaign.
• Party officials say he is likely to be the nominee in the end because no major rival has pledged to run against him.
• Skepticism from senior figures persists, with Laurent Wauquiez calling the ballot “a pointless vote” and Michel Barnier labeling it a step before an autumn “moment of truth.”
• In March, LR ruled out a wider open primary that would include candidates from other parties, a move that led the pro-market mayor David Lisnard to quit the party.