While François Ruffin, the MP for the Somme, wishes to participate in the primary organized by the Socialist Party , Place Publique, and the Republican and Socialist Left for the 2027 elections, Raphaël Glucksmann has now barred him from running. The Place Publique candidate cites rules already adopted by Socialist Party members. This position is surprising, to say the least, considering that just two years ago, he was presenting Ruffin as one of the best representatives of the "historical struggles of the left" and even considering him for the Prime Minister's office.
HE SAID…
In January 2024, Raphaël Glucksmann was full of praise for François Ruffin. Interviewed on France Inter , the founder of Place publique declared about him: "He is the one who best embodies the historical struggles of the left today."
A few months later, after the dissolution of the National Assembly and the formation of the New Popular Front, Glucksmann went even further. Opposed to the idea of Jean-Luc Mélenchon becoming Prime Minister, he explained that it would be necessary to choose a figure capable of building consensus and cited several names, including François Ruffin, Boris Vallaud, Valérie Rabault, and Laurent Berger. Ruffin thus appeared sufficiently respectable and unifying to be considered for the position.
HE LIED!
Two years later, the atmosphere has changed. François Ruffin now wants to participate in the Social Democratic primary for the 2027 presidential election. Olivier Faure says he is in favor of him entering the race. But Raphaël Glucksmann refuses.
“The Socialist activists have made their decision; we don’t change the rules mid-game,” he responded on RTL radio this Tuesday, September 8, rejecting the idea of opening the primary to François Ruffin. Place Publique is now citing ideological differences with the former La France Insoumise member, particularly on the economy, nuclear power, and European issues.
Formally, Glucksmann can, of course, point out that the primary rules have already been voted on and that Ruffin is not included in the selection process. But politically, the contrast is striking: in 2024, Ruffin "best embodied the historical struggles of the left" and could even be presented as a consensus prime minister. In 2026, when he simply asks to face Glucksmann in front of left-wing voters, the door slams shut.
François Ruffin even joked about it on X: "Yesterday, he was opening the door of Matignon to me. Today, for his primary, he's saying no to me." And the MP for the Somme is now driving the point home by accusing Glucksmann of being "afraid of the voters."
The problem, therefore, may not be that François Ruffin has changed. It's more that, in the meantime, he has become a competitor.
When Ruffin could serve as a consensus figure to block Mélenchon's path, Glucksmann rolled out the red carpet for him all the way to Matignon. Now that he could directly challenge him for the presidential nomination, the same carpet is being carefully rolled out.
