The united left gathered in Trappes on November 15 to announce a primary in autumn 2026, aiming for a common candidacy in the 2027 presidential election against the far right. Figures like Olivier Faure and Marine Tondelier reaffirmed their commitment, despite refusals from Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Raphaël Glucksmann. Three candidates are already declared for this process.
The united left, bringing together the Socialist Party (PS), the Ecologists, L'Après, Debout!, and Génération.s, gathered on Saturday, November 15, in Trappes, Yvelines, to promote unity against the far right. At this meeting, Lucie Castets announced a primary in autumn 2026, with dates and procedures to be specified in the first half of December.
"When we give the date, it will create a momentum, a dynamic," said Ms. Castets, citing an Elabe poll for BFM-TV showing that 72% of Nouveau Front populaire voters want a single left-wing candidacy. Marine Tondelier described this initiative as "the most difficult political battle we've ever had to wage."
This pledge of unity dates back to July in Bagneux, where participants, including Olivier Faure, Marine Tondelier, Clémentine Autain, François Ruffin, and Benjamin Lucas, committed to a common candidate for 2027. Three candidates are already declared: François Ruffin, Clémentine Autain, and Marine Tondelier, who is expected to be endorsed by her party in early December. Olivier Faure has not yet decided on his participation.
However, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Raphaël Glucksmann, the top polling left-wing figures, refuse to join, believing they can embody the useful vote. The French Communist Party (PCF) does not fully endorse this union yet, though Clémentine Autain highlights its "antifascist culture and tradition of unity."
Within the PS, divisions remain: some prefer supporting Glucksmann, but Johanna Rolland recalls the congress mandate for a common candidacy, with militants to be consulted after municipal elections. Olivier Faure stresses the growing moral obligation of unity.
The event featured a thematic convention on education with youth from popular neighborhoods, denouncing school separatism. A programmatic platform will be launched in February. Despite tensions over the budget in Parliament, Autain notes that "the budget sequence does not unite," but allows voters to choose.
This gathering precedes another in Pontoise around Bernard Cazeneuve and Raphaël Glucksmann. Olivier Faure downplays it: "He has the right to want to embody what he wants." A Socialist deputy warns of fragmentation risk, alluding to "Jospin 2002" if the primary is ignored.