Socialist primary 2026: tensions around videos, education and Ukraine

Never two without three. Once again, the five candidates in the primary of the Socialist Party and its allies interacted in a tense atmosphere, Sunday October 4, during a debate organized by BFMTV. The Place publique MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, the boss of the PS Olivier Faure, the former 2007 presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, the PS deputy Jérôme Guedj and that of the Republican and Socialist Left (GRS) Emmanuel Maurel, who hope to represent social democracy in 2027, opposed each other on several points... And often fought each other. Franceinfo summarizes the main points of these exchanges, before the first round of the primary, scheduled for October 9 and 10.

Passing of arms around the videos revealed by “Le Media”

The last televised debate of the socialist primary was an opportunity to settle some scores. Brought up in the first twenty minutes of the discussions, by Olivier Faure, the subject of the video broadcast by the site "le Média" in which Raphaël Glucksmann accuses Ségolène Royal of having done "belly dancing" with Emmanuel Macron. Ségolène Royal, was discussed at length. The former presidential candidate denounced “an assault with sexual connotations”. “I do not accept that once again we can degrade a woman,” she declared, before adding, addressing Raphaël Glucksmann: “I am used to verbal attacks during campaigns, but coming from you, it particularly shocked me.”

The Public Place candidate defended himself, explaining that the images were filmed "in a private setting" and ensuring that "there was no sexist connotation". “The simplest thing is to apologize”, then underlined the boss of the PS Olivier Faure, adding that “it was not a private setting, it was an activist meeting”.

“I am very sorry if these comments were perceived as sexist. They were not intended to come out. I am sorry,” he finally declared.

The fate of high school students at the heart of the discussions

After a long introductory speech, the five candidates were invited to speak on the necessary reforms in National Education, while the country is going through a wave of blockages in high schools. All showed their support for the demands of the high school students. They are “absolutely legitimate”, argued Jérôme Guedj, but “violence serves absolutely nothing”. “As president, I will give new instructions to the police” in terms of maintaining order, by not resorting to the use of LBD for example, he continued, while affirming that “youth must be protected from violence and thugs.”

Emmanuel Maurel, for his part, defended the “repeal” of Parcoursup, which he considers to be a stress factor for students and parents. He specified that he wanted to return to the baccalaureate reform in 2019, which put an end to the ES, S or L sectors. Raphaël Glucksmann, Public Place candidate, said he wanted to "be inflexible with the thugs who come to steal the mobilization of high school students", and promised, if he arrives at the Elysée, "a programming law over five years" for school buildings, the increase in teachers' salaries or even "the reduction in the number of students per class".

The specter of Jean-Luc Mélenchon weighs on the debate

If several candidates deplored that the primary revolved around alliances with LFI, it did not take long for Jean-Luc Mélenchon to return to the debate. “Jean-Luc Mélenchon is not Voldemort [the one whose name must not be pronounced], but he is a burden on the prospect of victory against the prospect of the RN,” launched Jérôme Guedj.

A short sentence aimed at Olivier Faure and his position "which consists of saying I try to be nice to everyone". According to him, the first secretary of the Socialist Party, who considers it necessary to bring together the left in the Assembly, is "weakening" them by suggesting "that we would have possible bridges" with LFI.

While Raphaël Glucksmann repeated his hostility to LFI, Ségolène Royal denounced the "hold-up" that the Place publique candidate is leading on the PS, accusing him of having come into the primary because he "failed to create a dynamic with his political party", and of overwhelming the formation of Jean-Luc Mélenchon to "justify the alliance with the right". “A pure trial of intent”, he lamented, affirming that he had no intention of diluting the social-democratic family, “neither in Melenchonism nor in the right”.

Voices that agree on pensions

The candidates were asked to answer a question from the general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, on the increase in the legal retirement age to 64 years. All said they wanted to repeal the 2023 reform, described as 'unfair' by Raphaël Glucksmann. The candidate, however, ruled out returning to a legal age of 60. On the subject, Ségolène Royal remained vague, saying above all that she did not want "to continue to scare retirees". "Pensions are the heritage of those who do not have them and these are people who have contributed", she said reprimanded.

Emmanuel Maurel affirmed, for his part, that he wanted to "stick to what we obtained, therefore the 62 years" and specified that he was "hostile" to capitalization retirement.

The Russian threat on the menu of discussions

As during the first debate of the primary, the war in Ukraine and the Russian threat were on the menu of the evening's discussions. Asked about the war in Ukraine, Ségolène Royal said she wanted to "maintain the defense of Ukraine" but assured that "it will take the same effort to stop this war", in particular with a dialogue with Vladimir Putin. “When you want to act, you find a way. When we don't want to act, we find an excuse," she said. A speech described as "syrupy" although "laudable" by Jérôme Guedj. "I'm not syrupy," said the former presidential candidate, who saw it as a "sexist" remark.

The PS deputy continued his remarks by saying he wanted Ukraine to win “this war and that it can decide on the conditions under which it requests a ceasefire and the recovery of sovereignty over its territory”. He estimated that France will have to maintain its financial and logistical aid to kyiv.

Raphaël Glucksmann finally called on Europe to "be capable of defending itself, even alone" in the face of the Russian threat weighing on the continent.