French MEP Glucksmann seeks to unite the left in bid for French presidency

Commentator-turned-politician Raphaël Glucksmann on Sunday announced his candidacy for France's presidential election next year, joining a crowded field of far-right figures, centrists and fellow left-wingers.

"Yes, I am a candidate in the presidential election," Glucksmann, a 46-year-old European parliament deputy who leads the centre-left party Place Publique, told TF1 TV, saying his aim was to "lift up France".

His move saw his partner Léa Salamé, a top newsreader on France 2 public TV, announce on Monday that she is stepping aside to avoid any conflict of interest in the presidential campaign.

Glucksmann emphasised he was not part of "classical political" circles, referring to his past work abroad in the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda and as a former adviser to the anti-Moscow former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili.

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Now in jail in his home country, Saakashvili was a staunch foe of Russia after the 2008 war between the two nations.

"It is not a decision I take lightly, especially given what we are going through now ... We all have a knot in the stomach when we see what is happening to our nation," Glucksmann said.

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But a host of candidates within both the left and the centrist camp of President Emmanuel Macron, who is not allowed to serve another term, have announced they will stand.

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon is planning to stand while Greens leader Marine Tondelier is campaigning while pregnant.

Socialist Party (PS) leader Olivier Faure and even possibly ex-president François Hollande are also mulling runs.

Polls give Glucksmann, who's popular among young people in what some term "Glucksmania", 10-12 percent of the vote, a creditable score but likely not enough to make a second round run-off.

'Long discussions' 

To avoid too much dilution of the vote, the Socialists and Place Publique are planning to hold a primary in October to find a single candidate.

Glucksmann has however ruled out any cooperation with Melenchon, still the leading contender on the left.

While Glucksmann, the son of philosopher André Glucksmann, strikes a more reformist and centrist tone than the PS, it is in his interest to work with the venerable party and benefit from its campaign machine.

He confirmed he would take part in the primary with my "Socialist friends" and added: "We will win this presidential election, I am convinced."

"I am a candidate to win and to change France," he said.

Besides being a staunch European who abhors the far right, Glucksmann is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

He acknowledged having "long discussions" with Salamé, "as in any couple when the decision of one person has such an impact on the life of another". 

"I know what this decisions means for my loved ones and in particular my partner," he said.

Beirut-born Salamé, 46, had already acknowledged she would step aside from her job presenting the flagship news show she has held since 2025 if her partner stood for president.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)