Horizons: Christophe Béchu in pole position to succeed Édouard Philippe

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Édouard Philippe is to bring together Horizons executives on 10 May in Reims, ahead of a major gathering expected in Paris on 5 July. Behind the scenes, the former Prime Minister, who is already a candidate for the 2027 presidential election, is also reportedly preparing for the aftermath: he could step down as party leader to hand the role over to his loyal general secretary, Christophe Béchu, in order to focus fully on capturing the Élysée. The former minister, a political heavyweight in the west and a formidable political organiser, currently appears best placed to take over the reins of the party. Christian Estrosi’s defeat in the internal battle for influence within Horizons has further strengthened the position of the mayor of Angers, renowned for his solid network of local elected officials and his unwavering loyalty to the former Prime Minister, who is now focused on the 2027 presidential election.