Hollande weighs return to French presidential race
The former president says he will decide in December whether to back another candidate or seek the Elysée himself.
Former French president François Hollande is considering a return to presidential politics ahead of France’s 2027 election, presenting himself as a moderate alternative amid divisions on the left and a crowded field.
Hollande has returned to the centre of France’s political debate during the late-summer political season, promoting policy proposals and a new book, Unir. He has called for a “sacred union of all democrats” across party lines, while leaving open whether he will support another candidate or run himself.
The former Socialist leader has avoided a Socialist primary scheduled for next month. Analysts cited by France 24 say he may be positioning himself as a fallback candidate if other moderate contenders fail to gain momentum.
An Elabe survey published in July found that 46 per cent of left-wing voters held a favourable opinion of Hollande, reportedly the highest figure among potential left-wing candidates. The survey’s methodology, sample size and full results were not provided in the source material.
Hollande served as president from 2012 to 2017 but did not seek a second term after historically low approval ratings. His standing has since softened among some voters amid dissatisfaction with Emmanuel Macron and the current field, although analysts say his record remains generally viewed unfavourably.
Early polling reportedly places Marine Le Pen ahead, followed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, with multiple candidates competing for support in the centre. Hollande’s potential case rests on his experience in office, including the 2015 Paris climate agreement and France’s response to the terrorist attacks that year, but any candidacy would also revive scrutiny of his record.
