Bruno Retailleau Elected Leader of France’s Republicans Party in Landslide Victory Over Laurent Wauquiez

After a three-month campaign marked by sharply contrasting visions for the future of the French right, Bruno Retailleau was decisively elected president of Les Républicains (The Republicans) on Sunday, May 18. The current Interior Minister secured 74.31% of the vote, far ahead of his rival, parliamentary leader Laurent Wauquiez, who garnered just 25.69%.

Of the 121,000 party members eligible to vote electronically, roughly 80% cast their ballots—an exceptionally high turnout that underscored the stakes of the leadership contest. The position had been vacant for several months following the controversial ouster of former party head Éric Ciotti, who was expelled in 2024 after forming an alliance with the far-right Rassemblement National during snap legislative elections. His eventual resignation marked the end of a leadership crisis that deeply fractured the party.

A Presidential Springboard for Retailleau

Retailleau, long seen as the front-runner, now emerges as a central figure in the reshaping of the traditional French right. His overwhelming victory positions him as a potential presidential contender for 2027. Emphasizing republican values and supporting cooperation with the centrist government to block the rise of the far-left, Retailleau also enjoys the quiet backing of figures like former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.

Wauquiez, by contrast, ran a combative and hardline campaign, championing nationalist positions and citing Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a model for a revitalized conservative movement. Despite helping boost the party’s membership rolls—from 43,000 to over 120,000—during the campaign, Wauquiez failed to rally sufficient support.

A Divided Party Seeks Unity and Momentum

This internal election, closely watched across the French political spectrum, signals a pivotal moment for Les Républicains, who have struggled with infighting and strategic missteps in recent years. With his mandate firmly secured, Bruno Retailleau now faces the challenge of unifying the party, solidifying its ideological direction, and positioning it as a credible force in the run-up to the 2027 presidential race.