Former France PM to run for president

Edouard Philippe, a prominent centrist figure and former prime minister of France under President Emmanuel Macron, has declared his intention to run in the country's 2027 presidential race.

Since stepping down from his role as Macron's first prime minister in 2020, Philippe has maintained his popularity among the French public, having established Horizons, a new center-right political party of his own.

"I will be a candidate in the next presidential election," Philippe told news magazine Le Point. "I'm preparing to propose things to the French. What I propose will be massive. The French will decide."

Philippe's announcement has added another layer of complexity to France's already turbulent political landscape, which was recently shaken by unexpected parliamentary elections called by Macron.

The president's attempt to strengthen his party's position through the early elections in July failed to yield the desired results, leaving him in a precarious situation.

Macron's centrist bloc is now sandwiched between a dominant left-wing alliance and the far right in a fragmented National Assembly, complicating his search for a new prime minister.

Amid ongoing negotiations to resolve the political gridlock, Philippe has officially announced his long-anticipated bid to replace Macron, who is ineligible for a third term in the 2027 presidential race due to constitutional term limits.

In his interview, Philippe expressed his commitment to his presidential ambitions, emphasizing his readiness to pursue the office regardless of potential political upheavals.

"It's often said that in a presidential election, you have to want nothing else. I agree," he said.

Philippe also emphasized he is prepared to be president in the unlikely event Macron surprised the country again by announcing his resignation.

Macron is attempting to reinvigorate discussions about forming a new French government. This effort comes in the wake of the leftist alliance's refusal to participate after Macron declined their proposed candidate for prime minister.

In response to the deadlock, Macron has widened his approach, stating on Tuesday that he is engaging with "anyone who wants to come and work for the overriding national interest".

The statement follows a series of unsuccessful negotiations held during the weekend and into Monday, which failed to yield any significant progress in resolving the political impasse.

Regarding the political negotiations, Philippe conveyed a willingness to back a broad spectrum of potential prime minister candidates in the interest of forming a functional government.

He stated his support for "any prime minister picked from a political space ranging from the conservative right to social-democracy".

"All governing parties should have as their main objective the stabilization of political life," he added.

In a pointed message to the conservative Les Republicains party, Philippe said: "The right must become engaged. By refusing to participate in this central bloc, it is pushing everything to the left."