Michel Barnier, the 74-year-old former French Prime Minister, has officially announced his candidacy for the legislative by-election in the 2nd constituency of Paris. The election has triggered a competitive race within the center-right party Les Républicains (LR), which must select its candidate amid a rivalry between Barnier and Rachida Dati, the current Minister of Culture. Despite the party’s official endorsement of Barnier, Dati has declared she will run as a dissident candidate, intensifying the contest. The by-election is seen as a significant political battle in Paris, with Dati also positioning herself for the 2026 mayoral race. The internal conflict within LR highlights the challenges the party faces in uniting its members ahead of the upcoming election.