The theme on which Bruno Retailleau differs most from the other ten candidates is “Institutions and democracy”, with an average gap of 1.83 points. He strongly disagrees with electing members of the National Assembly by proportional representation and with calling a constituent assembly to create a Sixth Republic, and he takes an intermediate position on the citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC), which seven of the other ten support.
Next come “Work and cost of living” (1.64 points) and “Energy, climate and farming” (1.6 points). On work, he strongly agrees with paying unemployment benefits for a shorter time, which only Édouard Philippe also supports to the same degree, and he is the only one of the eleven who strongly disagrees with rent controls in all large cities. He disagrees with raising the minimum wage to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions and with keeping the 35-hour week, and also, in a position estimated for lack of a source, with cutting VAT on energy and motor fuel. On energy, he strongly agrees with building new nuclear reactors and with scrapping low-emission zones (ZFE), and strongly disagrees with continuing to develop wind power; he is also the only one who strongly disagrees with banning glyphosate and neonicotinoids. He is, however, never alone, or almost alone, on his side: whenever he agrees or disagrees, at least two of the other ten candidates do too.
The themes on which he is closest to the rest are Europe (0.63 points), where he takes an intermediate position on French law taking precedence over European law and strongly disagrees with leaving the European Union, followed by “Society, secularism and regions” (0.73 points) and “Education and youth” (0.87 points).
Of his 46 positions, 16 are in favour, 5 intermediate and 25 against; 20 are at the extremes (1 or 5) and 3, for lack of a source, are estimated. His highest match is with David Lisnard (88%), his lowest with Jean-Luc Mélenchon (33%).
