Socialist primary candidates split on fiscal approach to CSG cuts
Socialist primary candidates split on financing mechanisms for proposed CSG tax cuts.
Event / Politics
French Socialist Primary 2027
French Socialist Party primary election for the 2027 presidential race, featuring multiple candidates competing to become the party's presidential nominee.
4 reported locations
Daily activity
29 articles0 articles
2026-08-25 to 2026-10-29 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Aug, 12:04 UTC
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What happened
Emmanuel Maurel announces candidacy for French left-wing primary for 2027 presidential election
Deputy Emmanuel Maurel, former leader of the socialist left wing, announced on September 4 that he will run in the primary organized by the Socialist Party (PS) and Place publique for the 2027 presidential election. Maurel is the founder of the small left-republican and socialist party (GRS) and currently sits with the communist group in the National Assembly after leaving the Socialist Party in 2018.
Emmanuel Maurel expresses confidence left-wing candidate can defeat National Front in runoff
Emmanuel Maurel stated that he believes a credible and authentic left-wing socialist candidate can reach the second round and defeat the National Front (Rassemblement national), rejecting the notion that a National Front victory is inevitable. He emphasized the importance of a candidate who learns from past mistakes and presents concrete proposals and a comprehensive project.
Seven candidates declared for French left-wing socialist primary
Seven candidates have declared their intention to participate in the left-wing socialist primary for the 2027 presidential election. Besides Emmanuel Maurel, the candidates include Raphaël Glucksmann (Place publique leader), Olivier Faure (Socialist Party leader), Philippe Brun and Jérôme Guedj (socialist deputies), Ségolène Royal (former presidential candidate), and Fabien Verdier (former mayor of Châteaudun). All candidates must obtain a certain number of endorsements to formally participate.
French left-wing primary scheduled for October 2026
The socialist left-wing primary will take place in two rounds on October 9-10 and October 16-17, 2026.
Left-wing primary scheduled for autumn 2026
The left-wing primary election to select a unified leftist candidate for the 2027 French presidential election is scheduled to take place in autumn 2026. The primary involves the Socialist Party, Place publique, and the Left Republican and Socialist party (GRS).
Multiple candidates contest French left-wing primary
At least five candidates are competing in the left-wing primary: Olivier Faure (Socialist Party first secretary), Raphaël Glucksmann (MEP for Place publique), Philippe Brun (deputy), Jérôme Guedj (deputy), and Ségolène Royal (former presidential candidate).
Olivier Faure heads Socialist Party since 2018
Olivier Faure, age 58, has been the first secretary of the Socialist Party since 2018. This is the first time he is running for the presidency. He took over the party after the Socialist defeat following François Hollande's presidency.
Socialist Party members vote for closed primary format
In July 2026, Socialist Party members voted for the first time to reject Faure's proposal for an open primary accessible for a 2-euro fee. They chose instead a closed primary limited to PS and Place publique members requiring a 15-euro membership fee.
Olivier Faure announces candidacy for French left-wing primary
Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), announced his candidacy for the left-wing primary election on August 30, 2026. He made the announcement to Socialist Party deputies and publicly at 8 PM on TF1 television. The primary will determine a single leftist candidate for the 2027 presidential election, organized jointly by PS and Place publique.
Raphaël Glucksmann leads in polling among leftist candidates
Raphaël Glucksmann is credited in polls with 10-15 percent of voting intentions in the first round of the 2027 presidential election, while Olivier Faure polls between 3.5-5 percent when tested as a candidate.
Socialist primary scheduled for October 2026
A primary election to select the social-democratic candidate for the 2027 French presidential election will be held in two rounds on October 9-10 and October 16-17, 2026. The primary is co-organized by the Socialist Party and Place publique, the political movement founded by Raphaël Glucksmann.
Delga calls for left-wing unity behind Glucksmann
Carole Delga called on the French left to unite behind Raphaël Glucksmann's candidacy to avoid a second-round runoff between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. She emphasized the need for the left to "have a strong voice and unite behind Raphaël Glucksmann."
Carole Delga endorses Raphaël Glucksmann in socialist primary
Carole Delga, president of the Occitanie region and member of the Socialist Party, announced on August 27, 2026 on TF1 television that she endorses Raphaël Glucksmann in the primary election to determine the social-democratic candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Delga stated that Glucksmann is "the best left-wing candidate to win" and can "build a strong France in a sovereign Europe" while addressing inequalities in the country.
Delga maintains opposition to alliance with La France insoumise
Carole Delga reiterated her long-standing refusal to form an alliance with La France insoumise (the Insoumis party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon). She stated that Raphaël Glucksmann should indicate in his campaign an "absolute refusal" of that party, marking a divergence from the current Socialist Party leadership under Olivier Faure.
Glucksmann proposes wage increases and education funding
Raphaël Glucksmann announced two key policy measures in his campaign: ensuring wages increase and providing adequate funding for the national education system so that all children, regardless of background, can aspire to achieve their goals.
Bouamrane remains candidate for 2027 presidential election
Despite refusing to participate in the primary, Bouamrane maintained he is still a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. He expressed confidence that by December-January, polling would show him as the best-positioned person to unite French voters and as the best choice for the Socialist Party's candidacy.
Karim Bouamrane announces he will not participate in PS-Place publique primary
Karim Bouamrane, socialist mayor of Saint-Ouen in Seine-Saint-Denis, announced on August 26 that he will not participate in the primary election organized by the Socialist Party and Place publique. He stated: "I will not go through the primary case but I am more than ever a candidate."
Bouamrane criticizes primary structure and cost
Bouamrane criticized the primary as closed, reserved only to PS and Place publique activists unless someone adheres at 23:59 by paying 15 euros. He argued this format would not reach the two million participants achieved in the 2011 Socialist primary that led to François Hollande's nomination.
PS-Place publique primary scheduled for October
The Socialist Party and Place publique primary election is scheduled for two rounds on October 9-10 and October 16-17.
Bouamrane calls for explicit anti-LFI alliance clause in primary charter
Bouamrane criticized the primary charter for not including an explicit prohibition on alliances with La France Insoumise in legislative elections. He called this a mistake and stated his position on LFI: "a clear, net and precise break" regarding their positions on republic respect, institutions, food policy, housing, and ambiguous relations with dictators and antisemitism.
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2 alternative perspectives
Glucksmann and Faure diverge sharply on post-primary coalition strategy
Glucksmann rejects France Unbowed alliance; Faure supports broader left coalition.
Primary debate set for October 6 as registration deadline looms
Primary debate and registration deadline set for October 6 as Glucksmann leads ahead of October 9-10 vote.
Royal enters primary race, challenges Glucksmann's experience credentials
Royal enters primary race, challenges Glucksmann while promoting Mitterrandist strategy for 2027.
Socialist primary confirmed for October 9-10, 2026
Socialist primary officially set for October 9-10, 2026 with seven candidates competing.
Socialist Party suspends deputy Brun amid primary discipline crisis
PS suspends and excludes deputy Brun from primary over violence allegations; Brun contests lack of due process.
Faure secures all endorsements needed for Socialist primary bid
Faure meets all endorsement requirements for Socialist primary race.
Faure apologizes for comparing wildfire devastation to WWII massacre
Faure apologizes for comparing wildfire devastation to Holocaust massacre site Oradour-sur-Glane.
Hollande undertakes regional appearances in Hautes-Pyrénées
Hollande plans September regional visits to Tarbes and Ibos in Hautes-Pyrénées.
Non-socialist candidates emerge outside party primary framework
Non-socialist left candidates Roussel and Attal announce candidacies outside Socialist primary structure.
Bouamrane stands firm outside primary as Socialist race intensifies
Bouamrane stays outside primary while pursuing independent presidential candidacy amid Socialist internal tensions.
Maurel joins seven-candidate field ahead of October primary vote
Emmanuel Maurel announced candidacy, expanding the socialist primary field to seven candidates.