Raphaël Glucksmann, the presidential candidate backed by the Socialist Party and Place publique, said Monday that France should consider changing the date of the second round of the 2027 presidential election. The vote is currently scheduled for May 2, the day after May 1 demonstrations marking International Workers’ Day.
Speaking on BFM-TV/RMC, Glucksmann argued that the decision would be sensible given what he described as the country’s high level of polarization, hostility and violence. The proposal had previously been raised by figures on the right and the far right.
Bruno Retailleau, a Les Républicains candidate and former interior minister, said he feared violence seen on October 17 could recur during the May 1 demonstrations. He also questioned whether the electoral timetable was legally appropriate, since left-wing candidates could be expected to appear in marches after the campaign had officially ended under electoral rules.
Louis Aliot, vice-president of the Rassemblement National and mayor of Perpignan, similarly argued that demonstrations organized by trade unions and left-wing groups would undermine the neutrality and calm expected before the vote.
The government has already ruled out changing the date. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said there was no reason to do so, arguing that moving the election would amount to yielding to offenders and groups responsible for recent unrest.
Glucksmann also addressed the mobilization of high school and university students after the Toussaint school holidays. He said he understood their decision to continue protesting, describing their demands as legitimate. Although he acknowledged that the government had begun to respond, he said its reaction had come too late and remained too vague, while urging students to return to class after making themselves heard.
The candidate said he would join trade unions and their inter-union body in the streets on Thursday. He linked the protests to low wages and the rising cost of living, arguing that many people work without earning enough to live with dignity and that the government must respond urgently.
Glucksmann also denounced what he called a climate of violence, the hardening of public debate and harassment campaigns. He said he intended to campaign throughout the country despite what he described as hostile messaging from supporters of La France insoumise, and warned that France risked falling apart.
On racist ideologies and public speech, Glucksmann said banning an idea, however abhorrent, was difficult. However, he argued that people convicted of racial insults, incitement to racial hatred or antisemitism should be barred from standing for elected office. In response to a question about media appearances by Eric Zemmour, he said racism was a crime rather than an opinion and called for stronger rules on ineligibility.
Sources: Le Monde Politique.