A confidential internal memo obtained by Politico has advised French presidential hopeful Raphael Glucksmann to concentrate his outreach on older, wealthier voters rather than the poorer middle‑class. The document, described as a “working paper” by Glucksmann’s team, identifies moderate, pro‑European left‑wing voters over 50 – including retirees and upper‑middle‑class professionals – as the party’s most promising base.
Glucksmann, a Member of the European Parliament and co‑founder of the centre‑left Place Publique party, has not yet formally declared his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election. The memo cautions against devoting significant resources to younger voters, single parents, low‑income groups and residents of neighborhoods with high immigrant populations, demographics that analysts say are more likely to back radical‑left leader Jean‑Luc Mélenchon.
The strategic shift reflects a broader calculation that the French left is fragmented and that Glucksmann’s appeal may be limited outside a niche of affluent, pro‑European constituencies. Critics of the politician argue that his background – the son of late philosopher André Glucksmann, educated in elite institutions and partnered with journalist Léa Salame – places him far from the concerns of ordinary working‑class voters.
France’s political landscape remains in flux. President Emmanuel Macron is barred from a third term, while the right‑wing National Rally, led by Jordan Bardella, currently leads most opinion polls. The memo’s authors appear to be positioning Glucksmann as a centrist alternative that could draw support away from both the far left and the far right.
Glucksmann’s résumé includes considerable experience in Eastern Europe. He spent more than five years advising former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and took part in the 2014 Maidan protests in Kyiv. He was married to Georgian‑Ukrainian politician Eka Zguladze and has been an outspoken supporter of Ukraine, repeatedly criticising EU leaders, including Macron, for what he terms insufficient assistance to Kyiv.
While the memo outlines a tactical focus on older, affluent voters, Glucksmann’s team stresses that it is not definitive campaign policy. The document is part of internal deliberations as the left seeks to define its role in a contest that could see a National Rally victory if current trends persist.
The relevance of this internal strategy extends beyond French borders. African readers following European politics will note how intra‑party calculations shape the broader ideological battle between pro‑European integration forces and nationalist or populist movements. As the election approaches, Glucksmann’s positioning may influence coalition talks and the eventual composition of the French left, potentially affecting France’s foreign policy stance on issues such as the war in Ukraine and relations with the European Union.
