In French Election, Centrists Eye a Judo Star and a Central Banker

Centrist voters in France are searching for an alternative to a likely 2027 presidential run-off between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Judo champion Teddy Riner’s announcement that he would run has drawn attention, but he is seen as an unlikely winner; his candidacy highlights the centrist bloc’s difficulty finding an appealing candidate.

Le Pen has held a strong lead, while protests and unrest have boosted calls for law and order on the right and social justice on the left, weakening centre-right contender Édouard Philippe. Other names attracting interest include former European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde, who has ruled out running, former prime minister Dominique de Villepin, and former president François Hollande. Among declared candidates, David Lisnard and Raphaël Glucksmann have gained in polls, in part because they were not part of Emmanuel Macron’s government.