Le Pen's presidential bid a threat to France, says Interior Minister

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Aug 2023 22:09

Despite being only 40 years old, Darmanin is the current minister of the interior, a super ministry that also oversees France's overseas territories. He has built a reputation as a tough-talking right-wing figure.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. (AP)

Gerald Darmanin, France's powerful interior minister, warned on Sunday that far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen could win the presidency in the next election. He also hinted at his own ambition to succeed Emmanuel Macron in 2027.

Darmanin's series of bold statements have shaken up French politics during the summer holidays. As the political elite members return from vacation, attention is now firmly focused on the 2027 presidential election, even though it is still years away.

Despite being only 40 years old, Darmanin is the current minister of the interior, a super ministry that also oversees France's overseas territories. He has built a reputation as a tough-talking right-wing figure.

In a show of his ambition, Darmanin invited 700 people, including a dozen ministers, to Tourcoing, a northern town where he was once mayor and which launched his career in national politics.

"We are here to defend the results of the president of the republic who has done a lot. There are four years left and we still, I think, have a lot to do," he said in the opening of the rally.

Darmanin added that he and his supporters were gathered to address the danger of Marine Le Pen winning the presidency. He said that it was "quite probable" that Le Pen could win, and that it was important to prevent her from taking power.

Darmanin has recently warned that Emmanuel Macron's centrist party needs to focus on the needs of the working class if they want to win the 2027 presidential election.

"People are asking for much more security, they are asking for better control of immigration, for secularism to be reaffirmed."

"We need to explain this better and I am part of this criticism," he added.

Although Marine Le Pen lost to Emmanuel Macron in the second rounds of the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, political analysts believe that 2027 will be her and the far right's best chance to win power in France.

Polls show that public concern about issues such as immigration, security, and the cost of living is growing. Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party has shown increasing confidence in capitalizing on these concerns.

Darmanin's early start to campaigning for the 2027 presidential election has not been met with unanimous approval, even within Macron's party. In particular, those on the left of the party have expressed concerns that it is too early to start campaigning and that it could alienate voters.

"2027 is quite far away," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne acidly responded last week.

French media have frequently reported on the frosty relationship between Darmanin and Borne, who retained her position in a recent cabinet reshuffle despite Darmanin's reported desire to replace her.

Meanwhile, Stephane Sejourne, the secretary general of Macron's Renaissance Party, said "ideas... should mean more than egos".