French far-right politician Eric Zemmour has confirmed that he will run in the 2027 presidential election, beginning another attempt to reach the country’s highest political office. The former television commentator made the announcement during an interview on TF1, ending months of uncertainty about whether he would lead his party into the next national campaign.
Zemmour founded the Reconquête! party in 2021 and became one of France’s most prominent far-right political figures during the following presidential election. He finished fourth in 2022, receiving 7.07 percent of the vote. Although he did not reach the final round, his campaign helped bring immigration, national identity and his proposed idea of remigration into the centre of political debate.
His decision to run again comes after growing internal discussion about whether another candidate should lead the party. Some supporters had wanted Sarah Knafo, Zemmour’s partner and the party’s only member of the European Parliament, to replace him. Knafo had gained attention through her political work and the success of her anti-tax book, which sold more than 300,000 copies. Her growing popularity created questions about the party’s future leadership.
However, Zemmour has decided to remain the central figure in the movement. He said he had considered the political situation and concluded that no other candidate or programme could prevent what he described as France’s decline. His campaign is expected to focus heavily on immigration, national identity and the future direction of French society.
One of his main proposals is to reduce the number of immigrants living in France by two million over a five-year presidential term. He has also continued to support his earlier remigration proposal, which has been strongly criticised by opponents and rights groups. The policy is likely to become one of the most controversial parts of his campaign.
Zemmour is entering the race in a weaker political position than he held during his rise in 2021. Several members have left his movement, and even some figures on the wider French far right have distanced themselves from his style and political language. His repeated use of highly provocative statements has also attracted criticism and legal consequences.
Since 2022, Zemmour has accumulated six final criminal convictions, including cases involving incitement to hatred and racist insults. He rejects the accusations and describes them as offences against political opinion. He has also promised to abolish laws that prohibit incitement to hatred if he gains political power.
The 2027 election is expected to be a major test for France’s political parties. Zemmour will compete for voters with other right-wing candidates, including Marine Le Pen and figures seeking to present themselves as more moderate alternatives. His ability to rebuild support will depend on whether he can move beyond his earlier campaign and convince voters that his party offers a practical programme for governing.
The confirmation of his candidacy adds another major figure to an already crowded political contest. It also raises questions about whether Reconquête! can regain the attention it attracted during its creation or whether internal divisions and competition from other right-wing groups will limit its influence.
