French Socialist Lawmaker Philippe Brun Barred from Presidential Primary Over Criminal Allegations

PARIS — French Socialist lawmaker Philippe Brun was barred Wednesday from running in an internal presidential primary over unspecified allegations against him that “may constitute a criminal offense.”

“The national leadership of the Socialist Party was informed last night of facts that may constitute a criminal offense involving candidate Philippe Brun,” the center-left party said in a statement.

“The Socialist Party does not compromise on the defense of women’s rights, nor on the exemplary conduct that must be its own,” the statement added. Brun was also provisionally suspended from the party.

Though Brun was seen as an outsider, he had received enough endorsements from party leaders to run in the internal primary. The primary, whose first round will take place on Oct. 9 and 10, is being organized by the Socialist Party and its center-left allies with the aim of narrowing the field of social-democratic candidates down to one — thereby increasing the prospects of qualifying for the runoff in the French presidential election in May 2027. No Socialist candidate has achieved this since former President François Hollande in 2012.

“I was stunned to learn this morning that I have been provisionally suspended from the Socialist Party and barred from running in the primary,” Brun said in a post on X, claiming that the allegations against him are tied to a dispute with a former female staffer. “I am unaware of these allegations. I do not know what I am being accused of.”

MEP Raphaël Glucksmann is currently seen as the favorite in a center-left contest that has been marked by repeated infighting among the Socialists and their allies. Ségolène Royal, who was the Socialist candidate in 2007; Emmanuel Maurel, an independent lawmaker; and Jérôme Guedj, a member of the Socialist group in parliament, will also take part in the race.