Presidential 2027. “We are going to win the presidential election”: Raphaël Glucksmann, officially candidate

He gave himself three months to try to convince the social democracy camp. A bet that he considers successful: Raphaël Glucksmann, without much surprise, formalized his candidacy for the presidential election on Sunday at 8 p.m. on TF1.

The first immediate consequence is the withdrawal from the competing channel France 2 of his partner Léa Salamé, who presented the news and was initially due to resume on Monday. Jean-Baptiste Marteau, joker at the helm this summer, should replace her. The 46-year-old MEP announced on May 26 on TF1 that he was giving himself three months “to travel the country”, “propose (a) new patriotic contract”, and “reunite (his) political family” for the presidential election.

Building on his 13.8% in the last European elections, where he led a PS-Place Publique list which placed him at the head of the left, Raphaël Glucksmann gradually felt himself growing wings: “I am accountable for the hope that I raised”, he said at the end of May, recalling that he had achieved “the only double-digit score in the last ten years for social democracy in a national election”. But while the candidate of La France insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon, his main rival on the left, is credited with 15% of voting intentions, the leader of Place publique is only estimated at 10-11%, while remaining the best placed in the social democratic space.

But then, what should we remember from the announcements of the now candidate?

Towards a primary with the socialists

Not having a sufficient structure to support his candidacy, Raphaël Glucksmann needs the Socialist Party apparatus to lead his campaign. He therefore confirmed on the set of TF1 that he will submit to the Socialist primary. “I have always said that I wanted to fight this battle with my socialist friends. We are going to win the presidential election,” he proclaimed. The terms of this nomination process must be finalized in the coming days and validated by the authorities of both parties next Tuesday.

Several socialists are already standing in his way. MP Philippe Brun and former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal are in the running. In La Tribune SundayMP Jérôme Guedj also confirms his candidacy, promising to defend “the two pillars of our republican identity: Social Security and secularism”. But Raphaël Glucksmann’s main opponent should be Olivier Faure: the first secretary has not yet applied, but intends to defend his line of uniting the left and refusing “irreconcilable lefts”.

Disagree with La France insoumise

The co-president of Place Publique, however, closed the door to any alliance with Jean-Luc Mélenchon. “If I win this primary, there will never again be an agreement with Jean-Luc Mélenchon,” he claimed, believing that “the only way for the left to return to power is to be absolutely clear.”

The hand extended to the rest of the left

Raphaël Glucksmann also reached out to other left-wing groups, outside the LFI. “The Environmentalists were right before anyone else. (…) Come with us to found the ecological Republic,” he said. A message also addressed to the Communist Party, with which he claims to share “common objectives”. Asked about the former head of state, he replied: “François Hollande? I extend my hand to him as I do to everyone. »

A roadblock facing the RN

The candidate justified his approach by the threat from the extreme right. “Are we going to offer France to Madame Le Pen and the far right? “, he asked. “I’ve been preparing for months. I have been fighting for French interests in the European Parliament for years. »

A program centered on ecology

After a summer marked by unprecedented fires and unprecedented temperatures, Raphaël Glucksmann made the environment the backbone of his project. “I want to be the president of the ecological emergency,” he promised. On the economic side, he announced that he wanted to “increase workers’ remuneration by taxing the largest 1% of inheritances”. The MEP finally defended “a five-year rescue plan for public schools with an increase in teachers’ remuneration and a reduction in the number of students per class”.

Favorable reactions on the left?

The first reactions did not take long on the left. MEP and co-president of Place Publique alongside Raphaël Glucksmann, Aurore Lalucq welcomed the candidacy of her ally: according to her, the candidate is not running “to take leadership on the left”, but “to win” and “break with the disastrous record of Macronism”.

MEP since 2024 and member of the national office of the Socialist Party, François Kalfon also gave his support, seeing it as the “starting point of the primary” for “a left of reparation”. He notably put forward the proposal to rebuild the school and “take care of the teachers”, which he presents as a priority shared by the French.

Socialist MEP and first federal secretary of the PS in Paris, Emma Rafowicz also provided her support, calling on “the socialist, republican and environmentalist left” to “form a united front”. She invited all those who “have the ambition to wear the colors of the socialist left” to participate in the primary, and warned those who would “bet on failure” of the election “hoping to be recourse to its outcome”.

The candidacy, however, raised questions among some… Member of Parliament for Yvelines and co-founder of Génération.s, Benjamin Lucas questioned the candidate’s strategy: if Raphaël Glucksmann rules out any alliance with the rebels, “with whom does he intend to govern?” “. For the elected official, the only alternative to a left-wing coalition would be to seek allies “in Macronie and on the right”, an option from which he stands out.