He was one of the political curiosities of Europeans in 2019. Four years later, Raphaël Glucksmann will once again lead the joint list between the Socialist Party and its movement, Place Publique. Four years during which the MEP has gained political depth, to the point that his supporters imagine him creating a surprise on June 9. Particularly on the socialist side, we believe that the stars are aligning.
Thirteen, 14, 15% and why not more: the electoral potential of Raphaël Glucksmann makes the eyes of the Socialist Party (PS) shine. “ It is unanimous in our ranks, and God knows it is not easy », smiles the boss of the PS, Olivier Faure. “ He can bring us together but also take votes from the ecologists and the Macronist list », predicted an advisor to the first socialist secretary.
While the war in Ukraine is still raging, the positioning of the MEP, who very early warned on the Russian danger, could indeed be widely appealing. And his political moderation too. “ 5 years ago, he was almost presented as a leftist, today we would like to make him a social liberal », laughs Olivier Faure, for whom the eagerness of his opponents to criticize the head of the PS list is proof of his potential success.
Strong criticism from the left
This is because of a strong distrust of the man who began by flirting with the Sarkozy right before being attracted by the sirens of Macronism and then allying himself with the socialists. “ He is truly a representative of the former left, free trade, surrounded by socialist barons », sneers an LFI deputy. “ He will have difficulty embodying the breakup », Adds an elected environmentalist. Her future competitor in the Europeans, Manon Aubry, regrets the fact that “ he was always totally opposed to Nupes “.
On the communist side, we find him especially very light on subjects other than his specialists: “ On agriculture, on energy, he has nothing to say », Judges a senior communist leader.
A surge of criticism which could indeed reflect real fear. Which has the gift of making Jean-Luc Mélenchon laugh: “ Give it until March or April and you will see », quips the rebellious leader, who has not forgotten thatin 2019, the Glucksmann candidacy rose very high, ultimately only receiving 6.2% of the votes.