Glucksmann launches French presidential bid, challenging Melenchon for left
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French centre-left politician Raphael Glucksmann launched a bid for the presidency on Sunday, seeking to challenge hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon for dominance of France's fractured left. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen consistently tops first-round voting intentions, leaving centre and left candidates facing an uphill battle to reach the runoff.
Key Facts
- Raphael Glucksmann, co-president of the centre-left Place publique party, announced his presidential candidacy on TF1 on Sunday.
- Glucksmann led the mainstream left alliance to 14% of the vote in the 2024 European Parliament election.
- Marine Le Pen consistently tops first-round voting intentions, according to opinion polls.
- The presidential election is scheduled for April and May 2027.
- Glucksmann's partner, France 2 news presenter Lea Salame, will withdraw from anchoring duties during the campaign to avoid a conflict of interest.
The Candidacy Announcement
Glucksmann told TF1, "Yes, I am a candidate for the presidential election." He framed his decision as a response to the far right, saying, "Are we going to hand our country over to the far right? Faced with such a choice, I could not stand aside." Glucksmann, a pro-European EU lawmaker, trails Melenchon in opinion polls. He said the left can win if it stands firm on its principles and stops being afraid of Melenchon.
Political Landscape
The announcement comes as France's political class returns from the summer break and gears up for a highly polarised presidential contest. Glucksmann has been critical of some of President Emmanuel Macron's pro-business policies but advocates a similar pro-European, pro-Ukraine line. He positions himself as a staunch defender of liberal democracy.
Media Attention
Glucksmann's relationship with Lea Salame, star presenter of France 2 TV's flagship evening news programme, has become a recurring subject of media attention. Newspapers have dubbed them one of France's top "power couples." Over the summer, pictures of the couple on a beach in Corsica appeared in Paris Match, a celebrity magazine that has been a launchpad for presidential hopefuls. French media report Salame will withdraw from anchoring duties on the public broadcaster during the presidential campaign to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.
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Glucksmann launches French presidential bid, challenging Melenchon for left
