Former presidential hopeful François Fillon backs Bruno Retailleau as sole right-wing contender

At a gathering in Avignon, François Fillon, who ran for president in 2017, publicly threw his weight behind Bruno Retailleau for the upcoming 2027 election. Fillon asserted that Retailleau is the only candidate whose platform is unmistakably right-leaning and who can spark a national resurgence. He praised Retailleau’s unwavering principles and potential to unite the right-wing electorate.

The endorsement was made during the opening ceremony of the Universités du mouvement Oser la France, an event organized by former deputy and LR vice-president Julien Aubert. Fillon also warned that the presidential contest is not a reality-show but a pivotal moment for the nation’s identity. His remarks reference his own legal troubles over the fictitious-jobs scandal involving his wife, for which he was convicted.