Mayor Karim Bouamrane joins 2027 French presidential race, widening left‑wing split

Socialist mayor of Saint‑Ouen, Karim Bouamrane, announced on France Inter that he will run in the 2027 French presidential election, positioning himself as a unifying force for the non‑Mélenchon left. Bouamrane, 53, described his platform as a "human and strong France" and criticized the current polarisation between candidate Jordan Bardella and Jean‑Luc Mélenchon, rejecting what he called political offers that pit French Muslims against Jews or label republicans as either pro‑Netanyahu or Islamophobic.

The announcement comes amid a crowded field of left‑wing candidates, with Mélenchon, Nathalie Arthaud, Philippe Poutou, Marine Tondelier, Fabien Roussel, François Ruffin, and several Socialist Party figures such as Olivier Faure, Boris Vallaud and Raphaël Glucksmann all vying for the nomination. Internal debates over primary structures and alliances have intensified, and analysts say the fragmentation threatens the left’s chances of reaching a second‑round run in the election.

Bouamrane previously launched the "France humaine et forte" movement in October 2024, attended by former President François Hollande and PS leader Olivier Faure, underscoring his ambition to reshape the left’s strategy ahead of the 2027 vote.