Raphaël Glucksmann, who won the French Socialists' presidential primary on 11 October with 66% of the vote, faces a difficult task attracting younger voters ahead of the 2027 election, DW reports.
The centre-left MEP, who belongs to the small Place Publique party rather than the Socialists themselves, has ruled out working with the hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. A Toluna Harris Interactive poll taken before his win put Glucksmann on 10-11% and Mélenchon on 18%. An Ipsos survey in September found Mélenchon backed by 41% of under-25s, with Marine Le Pen on 20%.
Glucksmann was hit with flour as he left his victory celebration in Paris's Belleville district. Rival primary candidates, including Ségolène Royal, questioned his lack of experience in government.
Source: DW