Candidate comparison
Retailleau vs Lisnard: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Bruno Retailleau and David Lisnard on the 46 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Retailleau and Lisnard differ?
Bruno Retailleau, leader of Les Républicains, and David Lisnard, who left LR in March 2026 and is running with his movement Nouvelle Énergie, take the same side on the vast majority of test statements where both have a sourced position. Both want to cut public spending first rather than raise taxes, reduce the number of public servants and fund part of pensions through invested savings; they reject going back to a retirement age of 62 and favour raising it to 65. They also want to pay unemployment benefits for a shorter time, hold a referendum on immigration, abolish birthright citizenship and end undocumented migrants’ access to State medical aid (AME), build new nuclear reactors, scrap low-emission zones, keep giving military aid to Ukraine and increase military spending. They differ on two points: Retailleau supports letting the State require doctors to set up practice in areas that lack them, which Lisnard rejects, and Lisnard wants to scrap Parcoursup, which Retailleau opposes. On a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC), Lisnard is in favour and Retailleau is neutral.
This summary is based on the candidates’ documented positions on the test statements; the source of each position is on each candidate’s page. Updated 19/10/2026.
Differences
Where they clash most
Health
The State should be able to require doctors to set up practice in areas that lack them.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy, taxes and debt
There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros.
Both: Against
Economy, taxes and debt
To reduce the deficit, public spending should be cut first, rather than raising taxes.
Both: Strongly in favour
Economy, taxes and debt
The number of public servants should be reduced.
Both: Strongly in favour
Pensions
The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower.
Both: Strongly against
Pensions
The legal retirement age should rise to 65.
Both: In favour
Pensions
Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar).
Both: Strongly in favour
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy, taxes and debt 94 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros. | Against | Against |
| To reduce the deficit, public spending should be cut first, rather than raising taxes. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| The number of public servants should be reduced. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| A wealth tax should be brought back. | Against | Strongly against |
Pensions 94 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The legal retirement age should rise to 65. | In favour | In favour |
| Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar). | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| All pensions should rise at least in line with inflation. | In between | Against |
Work and cost of living 85 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions. | Against | Against |
| The legal working week should stay at 35 hours. | Against | Against |
| VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut. | Against | In between |
| Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Rent controls should apply in all large cities. | Strongly against | Against |
Health 50 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| The State should be able to require doctors to set up practice in areas that lack them. | In favour | Strongly against |
| Funding for public hospitals should be greatly increased, even if it costs the State more. | Against | Strongly against |
Immigration 92 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a referendum on immigration. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Birthright citizenship (“droit du sol”) should be abolished. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Undocumented workers who have a job should be given legal status. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Social housing and jobs should go to French citizens first. | Against | Against |
| Undocumented migrants should keep access to State medical aid (AME). | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Family reunification should be suspended. | In between | In favour |
Security and justice 94 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| Police officers and gendarmes should be presumed to have acted in self-defence. | In favour | In favour |
| Judges should have to give repeat offenders mandatory minimum sentences. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The sale of cannabis should be legalised and regulated. | Against | Against |
| Rubber-bullet launchers (LBD) and grenades should be banned at demonstrations. | Against | Against |
Education and youth 67 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| Social media should be banned for children under 15. | In favour | In between |
| School uniform should be compulsory in primary and lower secondary school. | In favour | In between |
| Parcoursup should be scrapped. | Against | In favour |
Energy, climate and farming 88 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| France should build new nuclear reactors. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Wind power should continue to be developed. | Strongly against | Against |
| Low-emission zones (ZFE) in large cities should be scrapped. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Glyphosate and neonicotinoids should be banned. | Strongly against | Against |
Europe 92 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| French law should take precedence over European law. | In between | In favour |
| The European Union should take more decisions by majority, without a veto for each country. | Against | Against |
| France should leave the European Union. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
Foreign affairs and defence 95 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| France should continue to give military aid to Ukraine. | In favour | In favour |
| France should leave NATO’s integrated military command. | Against | Against |
| France should offer to extend its nuclear deterrent to its European partners. | Strongly against | Against |
| There should be compulsory national service for all young people. | Against | Against |
| France should increase its military spending. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Institutions and democracy 75 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the National Assembly should be elected by proportional representation. | Strongly against | Against |
| There should be a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC). | In between | Strongly in favour |
| A constituent assembly should be called to create a Sixth Republic. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
Society, secularism and regions 100 %
| Question | Retailleau | Lisnard |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 law allowing assisted dying should be kept. | Against | Against |
| Corsica should be able to make its own rules in some areas. | Against | Against |
| Girls under 18 should not be allowed to wear the headscarf in public spaces. | In between | In between |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
Take the test and find out how closely you match Retailleau, Lisnard and the other candidates.
Take the political test