Darmanin and Beaune sound the alarm: Le Pen or Mélenchon would threaten Europe

Two voices from the presidential camp, one message. On Monday 2 November, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and High Commissioner for Planning Clément Beaune each raised the spectre of a European rupture should Marine Le Pen or Jean-Luc Mélenchon win the Élysée in 2027.

Darmanin: they would kill Europe as it exists

Speaking at a forum in Barcelona, the Justice Minister, who is backing Édouard Philippe in the presidential race, did not mince his words, according to AFP. In his view, a victory for either candidate would spell the end of the current European project.

Gérald Darmanin said that Mr Mélenchon and Ms Le Pen would kill Europe as it exists.

According to the minister, both candidates' programmes are built on the end of this Europe. He called for the election of a strongly pro-European president, able to build a Europe of power rather than a Europe of discussion.

Gérald Darmanin also painted a bleak picture: Europe is falling behind in the world, and France tends to fall behind within Europe. Along the way, he lambasted what he called old people's debates in France, on pensions, health insurance or end-of-life care, urging a shift in focus towards artificial intelligence, the climate and green industry.

Beaune predicts a major European crisis

A few hours earlier, on Public Sénat, Clément Beaune had taken aim at Marine Le Pen. The former Europe minister believes her election would call into question balances built over 75 years, under every majority since General de Gaulle.

In his view, the RN candidate, historically opposed to the European project, is now advancing in disguise behind a renegotiation of the EU budget. The result, he said, would be a major European crisis if Marine Le Pen were elected. Nor does he believe that an RN victory would draw other countries towards a "Europe of nations".

Clément Beaune also accuses Le Pen's party, including in the European Parliament, of wanting to desert Europe or unpick it on environmental and climate issues. Public Sénat does not report any reaction from the RN to these remarks.

A campaign taking shape against an RN-LFI run-off

These statements come against a specific backdrop: polls currently point to a second round between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The centre and the right are divided over how to avoid it, between the primary demanded by Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe's refusal, reaffirmed on Sunday evening.

Europe is emerging as one of the markers chosen by the centrist bloc to set itself apart from the two front-runners. The first round of the presidential election is set for 18 April 2027.