Édouard Philippe
Mayor of Le Havre, former prime minister; declared candidate for president
Édouard Philippe gets a B+
Score: 87 out of 100, the average of 8 measures. Graded on what Philippe has said and done, because we count recorded votes only for the US Congress. Every line is below, with its source.
- AIran: the peopleWith liberty, 1 source
- AAlliesWith liberty, 3 sources
- ?MilitaryNot clear either way, 1 source
- ABordersWith liberty, 3 sources
- AIslamic migrationWith liberty, 1 source
- ?IslamizationNot clear either way, 1 source
- ASecularismWith liberty, 1 source
- ACapitalismWith liberty, 1 source
- FFree speechAgainst liberty, 1 source
- AAnti-wokeWith liberty, 1 source
Philippe, on the record
14 things Philippe has said and done. Each one has its source, and each is marked with the same test we use for votes in Congress. A line that does not settle the question is marked as not clear and counts for nothing.
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Asked about the Islamic veil, said he has more admiration for the women in Iran who fight to take it off.
“I have more admiration for the women in Iran who fight to take it off.”
In French:
J'ai plus d'admiration pour les femmes en Iran qui se battent pour le retirer.
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Speaking for Iranian women against the rule their rulers impose counts as with liberty.
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Said France may one day have to talk to Putin again, and that it would be better to do so from strength than from weakness.
“Perhaps one day we will have to talk to Putin again. It would be better to resume the conversation from a position of strength rather than weakness.”
In French:
Peut-être qu'un jour il faudra reparler avec Poutine. Ce serait mieux de reprendre la conversation dans un rapport de force plutôt que de faiblesse.
- By the test we use for votes
- Not clear either way
Being open to talks with Moscow from a position of strength neither sides with Russia nor adds to support for Ukraine.
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Travelled to Kyiv as a presidential candidate in May 2026, three days after a mass Russian missile and drone attack, and met President Zelensky.
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Going to Kyiv to back Ukraine in his campaign is standing with Ukraine against Russia.
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After a National Rally vice-president said aid to Ukraine should be cut off, accused Marine Le Pen of weakness and of aligning with Russia.
“the voice of weakness and of guilty alignment”
In French:
la voix de la faiblesse et de l'alignement coupable
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Defending aid to Ukraine against a call to end it is standing with Ukraine against Russia.
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Said the question of giving military training to part or all of French youth may soon have to be asked.
“Whether one day, to protect France's interests and its security, we will have to train, and train militarily or it makes no sense, part of the young or even all of the young, is a question that may be asked”
In French:
Est-ce qu'un jour, pour préserver les intérêts de la France, sa sécurité, il ne faudra pas former - et former militairement, sinon ça n'a aucun sens - une partie de la jeunesse, voire toute la jeunesse, c'est une question qui sera peut-être posée
- By the test we use for votes
- Not clear either way
He raises the return of military service as a question without proposing it, so the line does not settle the measure.
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Said people who do not respect France's rules must be deported, even if that means a showdown with their home countries.
“Those who do not respect our rules have no business being here and must be deported, even if it means forcing a showdown with the states concerned.”
In French:
Ceux qui ne respectent pas nos règles n'ont rien à y faire et doivent être expulsés, quitte à imposer un rapport de force avec les États concernés.
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Deporting those who break the rules counts as with liberty.
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In the same answer, said France will need immigrant workers because of its ageing population.
“But given our demographics, we will need people who work.”
In French:
Mais compte tenu de notre démographie, on a aura besoin de gens qui bossent.
- By the test we use for votes
- Not clear either way
Backing labour immigration without giving a scale neither opens legal routes at scale nor closes them.
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Promised that if elected no new asylum claim would be registered in Mayotte for five years, and said immigration there must be shut off completely.
“To build Mayotte's future, the urgent thing is to shut the floodgates of immigration. Not halfway. Completely”
In French:
Pour construire l'avenir de Mayotte, l'urgence est de fermer les vannes de l'immigration. Pas à moitié. Totalement
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Closing entry routes and cutting illegal entry counts as with liberty.
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Said France should end the 1968 agreement that gives Algerians easier rules to enter and stay than other foreigners.
“There is no reason to let a state of the law continue that would suggest we have a special relationship with Algeria”
In French:
Il n'y a aucune raison de laisser perdurer un état du droit qui laisserait penser qu'on a une relation particulière avec l'Algérie
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Ending a special entry and residence route from Algeria limits migration from an Islamic country.
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Said he fights the National Rally's plan to fine women for wearing the Islamic veil in the street, while saying he is not at ease with the veil.
“I may not be at ease with the wearing of the veil, but that does not mean I want to ban it”
In French:
Je peux ne pas être à l'aise avec le port du voile, mais ça ne veut pas dire que je veux l'interdire
- By the test we use for votes
- Not clear either way
The measure counts veil bans in schools and public office; he opposes a ban in the street and keeps strict neutrality for civil servants, so the line does not settle it.
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Said he stands for the principle of secularism and the absolute neutrality of public authority towards religion.
“I am for the principle of secularism”
In French:
Je suis pour le principe de laïcité
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
A state that is neutral towards every religion counts as with liberty.
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Proposed raising the legal retirement age to 65 and the contribution period to 45 years.
“I propose to raise the contribution period gradually to 45 years and the retirement age to 65”
In French:
Je propose de porter progressivement la durée de cotisation à 45 ans et l'âge de départ à 65 ans
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Pension reform that cuts state spending counts as with liberty.
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As prime minister during the Yellow Vest protests, announced a law that would let prefects ban a named person from going to a demonstration.
- By the test we use for votes
- Against liberty
A power for the government to bar a citizen from demonstrating without a judge is a restriction on lawful expression, the side against liberty.
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As prime minister, signed a circular telling ministers not to use so-called inclusive writing in official texts.
“not to make use of so-called inclusive writing”
In French:
à ne pas faire usage de l'écriture dite inclusive
- By the test we use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping inclusive language out of state texts counts as with liberty.
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Édouard Philippe
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