Glucksmann wins Socialist primary with 66% for 2027 French election

Raphaël Glucksmann, a European Parliament member and leader of the Place Publique party, secured the Social Democratic primary nomination for the 2027 French presidential election with 66.17% of the vote. The first round concluded on October 11 after a cyberattack forced organisers to extend voting by 22 hours until Sunday evening.

Approximately 120,787 registered participants cast ballots, well below the 140,282 initially enrolled and a fraction of the 2.7 million who voted in the 2011 Socialist primary. Turnout remained low despite the extension, with only 20,000 votes recorded by Friday evening before the attack disrupted the electronic platform.

“A left faithful to its values can unite, govern and win. It can speak of justice, ecology and Republic without renouncing anything.”

Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure finished a distant second with 14.48%, while former 2007 candidate Ségolène Royal garnered 7%. Emmanuel Maurel and Jérôme Guedj each received around 6%. Faure announced he would remain party leader despite the heavy defeat.

Glucksmann campaigned on breaking ties with Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise, arguing a pro-European, pro-Ukraine centre-left platform can unite the fragmented left. In his victory statement, he pledged to "listen, convince and rally" beyond the primary electorate.

Current polls place Glucksmann near 10% voting intention for the presidential race, trailing Marine Le Pen, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, and Mélenchon. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for April 18, 2027, with a runoff on May 2 if needed.