FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER WINS VOTE AS REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADER- Retailleau beat Laurent Wauquiez with over 74% of votes
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau was voted the new leader of the Republicans (LR) party on Sunday (May 18), bolstering his chances ahead of a 2027 presidential election in which many believe he will run.
With a massive number of over 74% of the votes in an internal LR election, Retailleau comfortably beat Laurent Wauquiez, who leads the party in France’s lower house of parliament.
Since becoming interior minister last year, Retailleau has evidently fought to crack down on immigration and drug crime.
The rise in popularity of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) has contributed to a right-ward shift in French politics, and Retailleau’s high-profile job and conservative views could make him a viable candidate for the 2027 election.
