During the first televised debate of the primary of the social-democratic space on LCI, the five candidates Ségolène Royal, Olivier Faure, Raphaël Glucksmann, Jérôme Guedj and Emmanuel Maurel expressed differences on the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza and their relations with La France insoumise, in particular on the negotiation with Russia, the use of the term "genocide" and the alliance with LFI during the 2024 legislative elections.
AI-generated summary
The primary in the social-democratic space aims to nominate a common candidate for future elections, in a context of tensions on the left and international conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Ukraine, Gaza, alliances on the left: the first televised debate of the primary in the social-democratic space highlighted several differences between the five candidates, Wednesday on LCI. Ségolène Royal, Olivier Faure, Raphaël Glucksmann, Jérôme Guedj and Emmanuel Maurel notably opposed each other on major international issues and on the strategy to adopt in the face of La France insoumise.
The war in Ukraine led to one of the most direct exchanges of the evening. Ségolène Royal defended the idea of negotiation with Russia while affirming that she wanted to “help Ukraine obtain a just and lasting peace”. “Some people tell us that we don’t have the right to talk about peace, otherwise we are treated as Putinolaters,” she regretted. Raphaël Glucksmann replied that Vladimir Putin “has no intention of negotiating” with the Europeans and that on the contrary we had to “resist, help the Ukrainians because it is our first line of defense”. Jérôme Guedj criticized the former presidential candidate for “wavering” on this subject.
Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Tensions have also been high over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ségolène Royal estimated that “the rise in anti-Semitism is not due to Israel” but “to the current leaders” of the country. She also called for “more Israeli and Jewish voices to say that what is happening” in Gaza “is intolerable”. Jérôme Guedj denounced an “incredible” injunction, believing that “to say that it is up to the Jews to justify themselves against the Israeli government is to essentialize the conflict.” Raphaël Glucksmann also contested these remarks, citing the risk of seeing people “being called genocidaires just because they have a kippah”. Ségolène Royal denounced “caricatures” and “trials of intentions”.
Another disagreement concerned the use of the term “genocide” to describe the situation in Gaza. Olivier Faure defended its use, unlike Raphaël Glucksmann. “Saying the word genocide has weight. When Pedro Sánchez speaks of a genocidal government, it has weight. And we need this weight to say stop this unbearable massacre,” insisted the first secretary of the Socialist Party. The candidates also displayed their differences on several domestic policy issues, including fuel prices, pensions and debt.
The question of La France insoumise
The question of relations with La France insoumise constituted the other main axis of the debate. Jérôme Guedj directly attacked Olivier Faure over the alliance concluded with LFI during the early legislative elections of 2024, affirming that he “did not care about the survival of a socialist group” in the Assembly. “There is no irreconcilable left,” Olivier Faure replied, before calling on his competitors to “stop this obsession with LFI” and concentrate on the far right. Ségolène Royal also estimated that this “obsession against LFI” contributed to placing Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s party “at the center of the game”.
Our file on the left
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Olivier Faure will seek to ease tensions with La France insoumise after the debate.
Likely · Within weeks
The debate over the use of the term "genocide" for Gaza will continue to divide the candidates.
Very likely · Within days

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