Partial legislative elections in Paris: why Rachida Dati will run "whatever happens" against Michel Barnier, designated candidate of the LR

She's finally throwing herself into the fray. Rachida Dati announced in Le Parisien on Monday, July 28, that she was a candidate "no matter what" in the by-election for Paris's 2nd constituency, after carefully maintaining the mystery surrounding her intentions. A self-proclaimed candidate for mayor of Paris in the 2026 municipal elections, the Minister of Culture is currently a right-wing dissenter, as Les Républicains officially swore in Michel Barnier late Monday.

The former Prime Minister was able to convince the National Investiture Commission (CNI), which also briefly received Rachida Dati, at his request, to defend his profile. A desire to preserve his stronghold, criticism of a "parachuted" figure, and preparations for the municipal election campaign... Franceinfo looks back at the reasons for a candidacy that, if confirmed, will reshuffle the cards during the September election.

Because she wants to counter Michel Barnier's "personal ambitions"

This is the first reason given by Rachida Dati to Le Parisien on Monday afternoon when she declared herself a candidate. "I'm going because Parisians must understand that this election cannot only serve to promote Michel Barnier's presidential ambitions," she said, mentioning in passing a "lack of respect" from the former Prime Minister. "The presidential election is not the same as the municipal election. And personal ambitions must not sabotage the only prospects of victory we have had for twenty years," she said to the CNI .

For his part, Michel Barnier stated on X that he wanted to "devote himself entirely to the inhabitants of [their] constituency and carry their voice with dignity and clarity" . On several occasions, without declaring himself a candidate for the supreme election, he nevertheless explained that he was "determined" , because "we will all have to be together and have courage. I want to remain useful as long as I have the strength. (…) We cannot remain spectators" , he told Le Figaro on Thursday about 2027.

Because she considers it to be "her" fiefdom

Although she has never been elected to the National Assembly, Rachida Dati considers the second constituency to be her own backyard. This area includes part of the 7th arrondissement, of which she has been mayor continuously since 2008. This is not the first time that the former European deputy has seen a heavyweight from her party arrive in "her" stronghold for the legislative elections. François Fillon, in 2012, and Nathalie Kosciuscko-Morizet, in 2017, were candidates for the UMP and then for the LR, without having any particular ties to it. Each time, Rachida Dati strongly opposed this choice .

In Le Parisien , Rachida Dati described the former head of government's candidacy as a "parachuting." " Honestly, we don't understand Michel Barnier's interest in getting himself into this mess. If he absolutely wants to get back in the saddle of the National Assembly, the 5th constituency of French people abroad is available," a supporter of the minister joked to franceinfo in mid-July. Proof of the Dati camp's attachment to this constituency is that it was a close friend of the minister, Jean Laussucq, who was nominated by the presidential camp in 2024, against the outgoing Macronist deputy, Gilles Le Gendre. A year after winning, the elected official was, however, declared ineligible by the Constitutional Council, leading to the by-election in September.

Because this announcement is part of its offensive strategy for the 2026 municipal elections

Nicolas Sarkozy's former Minister of Justice has repeatedly stated that her ultimate ambition is the Paris mayoralty. She has already run for the city hall twice, in vain: in 2014, the right preferred Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet to represent its colors, and in 2020, Anne Hidalgo managed to retain her seat. For 2026, Rachida Dati declared her candidacy very early and quickly sought the support of the presidential camp as part of an alliance of the center and the right. In early June, a recording of the France 2 program "Complément d'enquête" revealed that she had obtained "the assurance of the Paris mayoralty" in exchange for her entry into the government in January 2024. In other words, she assures that the central bloc will actively support her in her determined desire to succeed Anne Hidalgo.

Her statement regarding the by-election does not call this objective into question. For some in the LR party, her current strategy is actually to use the withdrawal of her candidacy to obtain the official nomination of the Republicans in the race for city hall. A member of the LR leadership thus believes in the bluff. "She is much weaker than we think," he criticized Monday evening on franceinfo, particularly because of the minister's legal troubles . The elected official was indicted in 2021 for corruption and influence peddling in the Carlos Ghosn affair, is suspected of lobbying for GDF-Suez, and has been cited in two cases linked to lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane.

In Paris, some voices consider that this candidacy is a delaying tactic, while the dates for Rachida Dati's trial in the Carlos Ghosn affair will not be set until September 29. "With all the legal cases surrounding her, she is above all a candidate for parliamentary immunity, which she would obtain by becoming a deputy," charges the Green candidate for mayor of Paris, David Belliard, in Paris Match . Through this regime, a deputy can still be prosecuted and convicted, explains the website of the Assembly (New window) , but he "cannot be subject to arrest or any other measure depriving or restricting liberty (judicial control)" during the duration of his mandate, without the consent of the bureau of the National Assembly.

Because she has the support of her followers... and of part of the presidential camp

Facing Michel Barnier, supported by Bruno Retailleau and several LR executives from Paris, Rachida Dati is not alone in this fight. She can count on her loyal supporters, within the municipal opposition group Changer Paris, but also on other important voices, particularly within the presidential camp.

Naïma Moutchou, vice-president of Horizons in the National Assembly, "supports her personally," she wrote on X late Monday. "Her career commands esteem, her commitment has never wavered. She masters every issue in the 7th, every corner of this constituency that she has helped to grow." Karl Olive, Renaissance MP for Yvelines, also expressed his "full and complete support" for the minister's candidacy in a long message on X. The various components of the central bloc (Renaissance, MoDem and Horizons) have not yet taken a collective position for this campaign, which promises to be particularly scrutinized.