Raphaël Glucksmann, strolling Monday with the ecologist Yannick Jadot on the port of La Rochelle, long a stronghold of the PS… No doubt, the socialist primary campaign, in which the MEP will participate, has begun. The terms of this electronic vote which will take place from October 9 to 10 (and from October 16 to 17 in the event of a second round) were validated this Tuesday evening by the PS authorities.
Raphaël Glucksmann, who formalized his candidacy for the presidential election, would have done without it but Olivier Faure, first secretary of the rose party, managed to impose it. “It’s clearly a victory for him. He wanted a primary to organize the democratic debate and to reduce the number of candidates,” explains those around him. He would have even liked a broader primary, going as far as the Ecologists and the parties of Clémentine Autain and François Ruffin, but the socialist activists opted at the beginning of the summer for a more closed ballot. Olivier Faure, who should formalize his participation soon, has always defended the idea of the union of left-wing forces against the National Rally. Even if he says he is opposed to Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s La France insoumise, he managed to ensure that the statement stipulating that there would be no legislative agreement with LFI was not included in the charter that all participants in this primary must accept.
15 euros to vote
Candidates have until September 15 to collect the necessary sponsorships from socialist executives. MPs Jérôme Guedj (Essonne) and Philippe Brun (Eure) announced their participation, as did former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal. The ex-socialist Emmanuel Maurel, deputy (Val-d’Oise) attached to the communist group, is considering running. On the other hand, François Hollande, who by his own admission is “preparing”, excludes any participation in a primary.
The real unknown is the electorate. PS and Place publique activists will be able to vote as well as supporters who will have to pay 15 euros (10 euros for the social rate) on a dedicated platform. Raphaël Glucksmann, who is a favorite in this election, hopes for “hundreds of thousands of participants”. He will need it to slow down the momentum of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, currently best placed on the left in the voting intention polls.
