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Glucksmann enters 2027 race
Raphaël Glucksmann announced his candidacy for France’s presidential election next year on Sunday, August 23, telling TF1 TV, "Yes, I am a candidate in the presidential election."
“"Yes, I am a candidate in the presidential election"”
Glucksmann, a 46-year-old European parliament deputy who leads the center-left party Place Publique, said his aim was to "lift up France" as he joined a crowded field of far-right figures, centrists and fellow left-wingers.
Reuters said Glucksmann launched his bid in Paris on Aug 23 to challenge hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon for dominance of France’s fractured left, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen consistently topping first-round voting intentions.
The Reuters report also said the vote is scheduled for April and May 2027, while Le Monde with AFP reported that President Emmanuel Macron is not allowed to serve another term.
Le Monde with AFP added that to avoid too much dilution of the vote, the Socialists and Place Publique plan to hold a primary in October to select a single candidate.
Left rivals and vote math
Glucksmann said he could not stand aside, telling TF1, "Are we going to hand our country over to the far right? Faced with such a choice, I could not stand aside."
Reuters reported that Glucksmann, a pro-European EU lawmaker, led the mainstream left alliance in the 2024 European Parliament election to 14% of the vote, while he trails Mélenchon in opinion polls.
France 24 with AFP said Glucksmann aims to unite moderate left-wing voters and challenge hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon ahead of France’s 2027 election, with Marine Le Pen leading first-round polls.
Le Monde with AFP said Glucksmann has ruled out any cooperation with Mélenchon, still the leading contender on the left, while France 24 with AFP said he will participate in the left primaries and abide by the rules if he is not nominated.
Le Monde with AFP reported that polls give Glucksmann 10-12% of the vote, a score described as likely not enough to make a second-round run-off.
Partner, Ukraine, and stakes
Glucksmann’s announcement is expected to prompt his partner, Léa Salamé, a top newsreader on TF1’s rival France 2 public TV, to announce that she is stepping aside to avoid any conflict of interest in the presidential campaign.
“"I am an independent, honest journalist – a free woman,"”
Le Monde with AFP quoted Salamé saying, "I am an independent, honest journalist – a free woman," while Reuters reported that French media say she will withdraw from anchoring duties during the presidential campaign.
Reuters said Glucksmann has advocated a pro-European, pro-Ukraine line and positioned himself as a staunch defender of liberal democracy.
Le Monde with AFP said Glucksmann emphasized he was not part of "classical political" circles, referring to his past work abroad in the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda and as a former adviser to Mikheil Saakashvili.
In the same Reuters report, Glucksmann said, "We must stop being afraid of Melenchon," as the campaign heads into a highly polarised contest shaped by far-right momentum.