Glucksmann's road to French presidency hits surprise obstacle

French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann's ambition to become France's next president has run into an unforeseen complication: a Socialist Party primary that has suddenly turned into a genuine contest.

Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure announced on Sunday that he would challenge Glucksmann for the party's nomination, transforming what had looked like a comfortable win for the 46-year-old lawmaker into a potential stumbling block months before the spring 2027 presidential election.

Glucksmann, who is not a party member, had agreed to compete in the Socialist-organized primary in order to secure the party's backing and financial support for his presidential run. Polling has suggested he is currently his political camp's strongest candidate to challenge far-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen, and before Faure's entry, no rival appeared capable of beating him.

Other contenders in the primary include three lower-profile members of parliament and Ségolène Royal, who was the Socialist candidate in the 2007 presidential race. Influential left-leaning businessman and media figure Mathieu Pigasse, who has been enlisted by the United States to help restructure Venezuela's debt, is also weighing a run. But Faure, who has led the Socialists for more than eight years, is regarded as Glucksmann's toughest potential opponent.

Glucksmann is already fending off criticism over his centrist-leaning politics and a perceived elitist image, fueled by his relationship with a prominent French TV anchor and his background as the son of a well-known philosopher. Royal recently described him as the media's favorite, while MP Philippe Brun, also a primary contender, likened him to a member of France's coastal elite.

Whoever emerges victorious from the primary will still have to contend with former President François Hollande, who is considering a political comeback. Hollande has opted out of the primary itself and said he will wait until December to decide his next move. Speaking with POLITICO, Hollande said primaries can energize a race but can also deepen divisions within a party.