Philippe Brun suspended from Socialist Party and excluded from primary

Philippe Brun, a French Socialist Party (PS) deputy, has been suspended from the party and excluded from the upcoming social-democratic primary election. The decision follows allegations of physical violence and harassment made by a former employee, which the party stated could have criminal implications.

Brun has denied all accusations, claiming he was unaware of the specific details and describing the claims as “false accusations” intended to “kill him politically.” He noted that the allegations were made by a former collaborator who was dismissed for serious misconduct in June. Brun announced his intention to file a legal complaint to clear his name.

The exclusion reduces the number of candidates for the primary to five: Olivier Faure, Jérôme Guedj, Emmanuel Maurel, Raphaël Glucksmann, and Ségolène Royal. The primary, co-organized by the PS, Place Publique, and the Left Republican and Socialist group, is scheduled for October 2026 as part of the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election.