French Socialist Party Sets 15‑Euro Fee for Primary Voters

The French Socialist Party (PS) plans to charge a 15‑euro fee for any citizen who wishes to vote in its 2027 presidential primary if they are not party members. The fee, to be formalised at the national bureau meeting at the end of August 2026, replaces the symbolic 2‑euro contribution used in previous primaries (2011, 2016).

The move has sparked internal opposition. Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal called the amount “prohibitive,” and mayor Luc Carvounas joined the criticism, warning that the cost could exclude modest voters. Party officials argue the fee is needed for security, to deter infiltration by rival movements such as La France Insoumise and the National Rally, and to cover logistical expenses for voting venues and digital platforms, amid the party’s strained finances.