Élisabeth Borne calls for centrist representation in presidential election

Former French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has expressed the need for a candidate to represent centrist values in the upcoming presidential election. Borne, who has left the leadership of the Renaissance party to launch her own movement, Bâtissons Ensemble, argues that the absence of a true centrist candidate could lead to a second-round runoff between the Rassemblement National and La France Insoumise, potentially resulting in a victory for the far-right.

In recent remarks, Borne criticized current political figures for failing to embody the center. She noted that Édouard Philippe identifies as being from the right, and she suggested that Gabriel Attal has moved significantly away from centrist values and vision. Borne also criticized the “rupture” rhetoric used by some former officials who present themselves as anti-system candidates, stating that such stances lack credibility and fuel extremist discourse.

While she is working to ensure centrist values are represented in the campaign, Borne stated she does not believe in a single “providential man” and emphasized that success must come through collective effort and building a coalition in the National Assembly.