French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann gears up to announce presidential run

Paris — Center-left MEP Raphaël Glucksmann plans to announce his presidential candidacy for next year's French election in the coming days, sources close to the politician inform. A likely announcement will be made via a prime-time TV interview on Sunday, according to the sources, who wished to remain anonymous. Glucksmann intends to take part in a closed primary within the Socialist Party, which involves a select group of candidates including former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal and MP Philippe Brun.

However, Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure has indicated his own interest in running. While securing the Socialists' backing would solidify Glucksmann's support, the party has been struggling with voter appeal and internal conflicts. Several high-profile Socialists like former President François Hollande and former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve have expressed interest in independent bids.

Despite Glucksmann's strong third-place finish in the 2024 European elections, he and other candidates are far behind the frontrunner, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. To qualify for the runoff, Glucksmann will have to defeat centrist and center-right rivals such as Edouard Philippe and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who currently polls slightly ahead of Glucksmann.

The two rivals, who have a history of contentious disagreements, are positioned to vie for a spot in the final round. Glucksmann aims to attract former Socialist voters who supported President Emmanuel Macron, while Mélenchon's policies tend to attract younger and working-class voters. Their points of contention include France's NATO participation and pension reform, with Mélenchon advocating for a lower retirement age and Glucksmann supporting a system based on life expectancy and individual working conditions.