France is 'going to the dogs,' Macron's inner circle despairs

The center cannot hold?

Then there’s former Prime Minister Philippe, who has conspicuously been keeping his distance — even disappearing to take the sea air in Le Havre, a Normandy port whose mayor he became in 2020.

Philippe, who served as PM from 2017 to 2020, used to be seen as the country’s next centrist president, but has long chafed under his promise to stay “free but loyal” to Macron.

In recent days Philippe has distanced himself from Macron’s inner circle more firmly, calling the EU election defeat “a rejection of the president” and questioning whether Macron should take part in the campaign.

In the upcoming parliamentary elections Philippe’s “Horizons” group will run as a separate party for the first time, which implies a certain financial independence. He has also started cultivating relations with conservative politicians from Les Républicains.

“The French president’s coalition is quickly falling apart, with coalition partners breaking away,” political analyst Morel said.

But although Philippe, who remains popular for his management of the coronavirus pandemic, has avoided national politics for the past four years, he risks terminal injury if voters turn against Macron’s camp.

According to Morel, the parliamentary elections will likely reinforce the left and Le Pen’s National Rally, which will be seen as the strongest alternatives in 2027.

After Macron, “the center risks becoming once again a place where politicians go to die,” he said. “With fewer lawmakers, networks, a centrist candidate will struggle to conquer the presidency.”