Raphaël Glucksmann won the French center-left presidential primary outright with over 66% of the vote, securing the Socialist Party's backing for the 2027 election.
Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament and leader of the Place Publique party, won France’s center-left presidential primary on Sunday. According to organizers, Glucksmann secured the backing of the Socialist Party and its allies for the 2027 presidential election by winning the contest outright in the first round.
Glucksmann received over 66% of the votes, beating Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure and three other candidates. France 24 reported the specific figure as 66.13%. Olivier Faure, who has been open to alliances with the far-left France Unbowed party, won 14.5% of the vote. The other candidates were former minister Ségolène Royal and lawmakers Jérôme Guedj and Emmanuel Maurel.
More than 120,000 people voted between Friday and Sunday. This turnout was significantly lower than in previous contests; 2.8 million people participated in the Socialists’ 2011 primary, which was won by François Hollande. Approximately 140,000 people were registered to vote, including 80,000 non-members who paid €15 to participate.
Organizers stated that the online voting platform was targeted by a cyberattack shortly after opening. However, they noted in a statement that the platform "was never disrupted" and "the integrity of the recorded votes has not been compromised."
Glucksmann, 46, has positioned himself as a break from both the current administration and the far left. "This result expresses something strong: that a left that is faithful to its values can unite, govern and win," Glucksmann wrote online. He added, "We are here to win the presidential election: Turn the page on Macronism, stop the far right and change our lives."
In a speech to party activists, Glucksmann stated, "I am the candidate who stands for a break with Macronism, the candidate who stands for a break with Jean-Luc Melenchon’s hegemony over the French left, the candidate who can defeat our long-standing enemy – the far right." He also said, "We shall unite to take up the fight and prevent the Trumpists, the coup plotters, the xenophobes and the demagogues from seizing control of the Republic."
Glucksmann is a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a critic of China. While critical of some of President Emmanuel Macron's pro-business policies, he advocates a similar pro-European and pro-Ukraine line.
The victory strengthens Glucksmann’s hand by granting him access to Socialist Party funds and a broader base. However, he faces the challenge of uniting a fractured left. Recent polls indicate a competitive landscape. An Ifop survey gave far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon 14% to 17% support, compared to 11% for Glucksmann. Glucksmann has campaigned against forming an alliance with Mélenchon.
Opinion polls suggest Glucksmann could reach the May 2 run-off vote in the presidential election but would lose to frontrunner Marine Le Pen from the far right.
Glucksmann’s victory consolidates the center-left’s candidate for the 2027 election, setting up a potential three-way contest involving the far right and the far left. His explicit rejection of alliances with Jean-Luc Mélenchon signals a strategic shift for the Socialist Party, aiming to differentiate itself from the hard left while attempting to counter the rising support for Marine Le Pen.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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