Socialist Mayor Karim Bouamrane Bypasses Party Primary for 2027 Bid

Karim Bouamrane, the mayor of Saint-Ouen and member of the Socialist Party (PS), announced Wednesday he will bypass the party primary for the 2027 presidential election.

This decision signals a potential rift within the French left as the race for the presidency begins to take shape. By rejecting the internal party mechanism, Bouamrane is positioning himself as an independent force within his own political movement.

Speaking during an interview on TF1 on Wednesday, Bouamrane said he remains a candidate for the presidency. He said he will not participate in the Socialist Party's primary process.

Bouamrane criticized the structure of the primary, stating it is closed to only party militants and is too expensive. He said, "The primary is closed to the sole militants of the PS and costs a lot, so I will not go through this step."

Despite his refusal to participate in the party's internal vote, Bouamrane said he is more committed than ever to his candidacy. He framed his bid as a necessary step to prevent other political figures from winning the presidency.

He said he remains a candidate to defeat Marine Le Pen and/or Jean-Luc Mélenchon. This strategy suggests he believes a broader appeal beyond the party base is required to secure a victory in 2027.

Bouamrane's approach challenges the traditional path for Socialist candidates, who typically use the primary to consolidate party support before facing the general electorate. His decision to avoid the "primary box" reflects a broader trend of candidates seeking direct mandates from the public rather than party insiders.