A government minister cautions that Marine Le Pen has the potential to become the upcoming President of France.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, positioning himself as a potential candidate for the center-right, has issued a warning that Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right, could secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.

"In the upcoming five years, it's quite likely that Madame Le Pen could emerge as the victor," Darmanin conveyed in an interview with La Voix du Nord published on Friday.

At 40 years old and overseeing French law enforcement, Darmanin has confronted numerous challenges in recent months, including urban unrest following the police shooting of a teenager of Algerian descent during a traffic stop near Paris in June, as well as violent firearm-related conflicts within drug-trafficking territories in Marseille and Nîmes.

Scheduled for this Sunday, he is organizing a significant political event centered around sausage, chips, and beer at his northern stronghold in Tourcoing. This event is designed as a brainstorming session aimed at devising strategies to counter Marine Le Pen's influence and recapture the support of working-class and middle-class voters. Political analysts in Paris interpret this move as a potential precursor to a presidential candidacy.

Marine Le Pen, who was defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the previous year's presidential election, has overseen a momentous achievement for her far-right National Rally party within the parliament, where it stands as the most prominent opposition entity. It's anticipated that she will contend for the presidency for the fourth time in 2027, particularly since the French constitution prohibits Macron from seeking a third term.

Speaking to La Voix du Nord, Darmanin emphasized, "If a substantial segment of the working class and middle class gravitates towards Marine Le Pen, we risk losing the support of the professional classes in the second round." He indicated that matters pertaining to society—such as income, work conditions, cost of living, and family assistance—held significant importance. He elaborated, "These factors could play a pivotal role in Marine Le Pen's potential victory in 2027, not issues relating to immigration."

Darmanin's caution regarding the insufficiency of the "professional classes" electorate to secure a presidential win was a veiled critique directed at Macron. Macron's voter base is perceived as belonging to the metropolitan demographic, which is characterized by being older and more affluent.

He conveyed a sense that the working class desires "a restoration of authority in schools and public spaces, a firmer stance within the justice system and law enforcement. People also aspire to reap the rewards of their labor."

Darmanin is positioning himself as the preferred candidate for working families. Hailing from northern France, his father owned a bar, while his mother, of Algerian descent, worked as a concierge and cleaner.

Philippe Ballard, a member of Le Pen's party in the French Parliament, commented on French radio Europe 1 that Darmanin held a significant role within Macron's elite and emphasized that only Le Pen's party truly comprehended the intricacies of people's day-to-day lives. Olivier Faure, representing the Socialist party, asserted that Darmanin was part of an administration that favored the wealthy elite at the expense of the general populace.

Darmanin has not yet disclosed whether he intends to run in the 2027 election. After departing from the right-wing Les Républicains, where his mentor was Nicolas Sarkozy, he aligned himself with Macron in 2017 and maintains a close association with him.

During his role as a budget minister, Darmanin played a significant role in executing Macron's primary tax reforms. His appointment as interior minister in 2020 sparked protests by feminists due to accusations by a woman that dated back to 2009, involving rape, sexual harassment, and abuse of trust. Darmanin vehemently denied all allegations, and this year, a Paris court of appeal upheld the judges' decision to dismiss the case.

As the interior minister, he has frequently faced criticism from the left for his firm stance on security matters. He opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage in France in 2013, but later admitted this year, "I was mistaken."