Glucksmann wins French left’s primary in round one with 66%

Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament and leader of the Place publique party, won the French centre-left primary outright in the first round on Oct. 11, 2026, with about 66 per cent of the vote, Euronews reported.

The result makes him the camp’s candidate for France’s 2027 presidential election and avoids a second round that organizers had scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17 in case no one cleared 50 per cent. Olivier Faure, head of the Socialist Party, finished second with about 14 per cent.

Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal placed third with under 8 per cent, Euronews reported. Jérôme Guedj and Emmanuel Maurel, both Socialist deputies, each took close to 6 per cent. Public Sénat headlines dated Oct. 11 also reported that Glucksmann won in the first round with about 66 per cent. Canada News Media has not seen the organizers’ official tally.

Organizers said 120,787 people voted, a turnout of 86 per cent, according to Euronews. About 140,000 voters had registered, Public Sénat reported on Oct. 9. Political journalist Rachel Garrat-Valcarcel told Euronews that a turnout of “at least 80 per cent” was needed for the primary to count as a success.

Glucksmann wrote on X that “a left faithful to its values can unite, govern and win.” He told reporters: “We are here to win the presidential election,” Euronews reported.

The primary was run jointly by the Socialist Party, Place publique and the Gauche républicaine et socialiste, according to Public Sénat and Sud Radio, which carried AFP reporting. Voting was held online and opened on the morning of Friday, Oct. 9. It was extended to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, after a cyberattack slowed the platform, Euronews reported.

Public Sénat reported that attackers used bots to flood the login system and stop some voters from connecting. Organizers said the attack did not compromise the integrity of the vote. The three parties filed court complaints, and the national cybersecurity agency ANSSI was notified, according to Sud Radio’s AFP report.

The win gives Glucksmann a head start in a crowded field. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and radical-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon are already in the race, Euronews reported. Mélenchon was not invited to the primary. Discussions continue about a possible alliance with his La France insoumise party in legislative elections, and about whether to back his candidate in a presidential runoff if the centre-left does not reach it.

Canada News Media found no Canadian government comment on the result. France’s presidential election is scheduled for 2027. The campaign now turns to whether the left can unite behind one candidate.

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Photo: File photo of the Eiffel Tower in Paris by Chris Karidis via Unsplash. It does not show the primary or the candidates. Via Euronews, Public Sénat and Sud Radio (AFP).