Glucksmann enters French presidential race, deepening left's rivalry
Centre-left politician Raphaël Glucksmann announced on Sunday he will run in France's 2027 presidential election, challenging hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon for leadership of the divided left. Polls currently show far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading the race.
French centre-left politician Raphaël Glucksmann confirmed on Sunday, in an interview with TF1, that he will stand as a candidate in France's 2027 presidential election, becoming one of the main contenders from the left and centre of the political spectrum. He said he could not stay on the sidelines while there is a risk the country could fall into the hands of the far right.
Opinion polls currently place far-right leader Marine Le Pen consistently ahead in the first round, leaving both centrist and left-wing hopefuls facing a difficult task to beat her in a potential runoff.
Rivalry with Mélenchon
Glucksmann, a European Parliament lawmaker known for his strong pro-European stance, led the main mainstream left alliance to 14% of the vote in the 2024 European Parliament election. He nonetheless still trails hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the polls, and a central question is whether he, or another centre-left figure, can unite the moderate left. Glucksmann argued the left can still win the presidency if it holds firm to its principles, and said the left should stop being afraid of Mélenchon.
His announcement comes as French politics resumes after the summer break, ahead of what is expected to be a deeply polarised campaign before the vote in April and May 2027. While critical of some of President Emmanuel Macron's pro-business policies, Glucksmann has taken a similar pro-European, pro-Ukraine line, presenting himself as a firm defender of liberal democracy.
Personal life in the spotlight
Glucksmann has also drawn attention for his relationship with Léa Salamé, a leading anchor on France 2's flagship evening news, with media outlets calling them one of France's most prominent "power couples". Over the summer, the celebrity magazine Paris Match published photos of the couple on a beach in Corsica. French media report that Salamé will step back from her anchoring duties on public television during the campaign to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
