In the French department of Seine-et-Marne, where the first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Olivier Faure, is based, an elected official is accused of making racist remarks. The controversy has created tensions within the PS, which is currently holding internal elections to choose a candidate for the 2027 presidential race. The mayor of Lieusaint, Michel Bisson, is hesitant to act on the accusations, while the party's leaders have been debating the issue on television. The incident involves an assistant to the mayor, Muriel Duclau, who was accused of making offensive comments during a public event. On May 8, 2026, during a commemoration of the Allied victory in World War II, Souadou Diallo, the president of the local association Ensemble pour l'enfance, planned a solidarity event. She had invited Muriel Duclau, the fifth assistant to the mayor responsible for education, but the latter refused, saying there were "too many blacks and Arabs and not enough native French" among the volunteers. Souadou Diallo responded on Facebook, urging Duclau to take responsibility for her comments. Duclau confirmed the remarks to the police but declined further comments, stating she wanted "peace in the commune." However, she later denied making the statements, claiming she had refused the invitation due to scheduling conflicts. Souadou Diallo also alleged that Duclau criticized her for the government of Senegal, where Ensemble pour l'enfance operates, and for using public funds for a "vacation" project. Duclau defended her position, saying she had approved the association's subsidy and that the term "vacations" was not meant to be derogatory but possibly poorly chosen. Regarding Senegal, she explained she wanted to ensure the safety of residents traveling there, not criticize the country's laws. The controversy led to internal conflict within the PS majority in Lieusaint. Josua Sakti Haron, a municipal councilor, alerted Michel Bisson to the accusations, but the mayor reportedly asked them to remain silent. Outraged, Haron filed a report with SOS Racism. Bisson said he acted cautiously, noting that an anonymous witness confirmed the remarks. As a result, Bisson withdrew Duclau's responsibilities and excluded her from the majority, though she still holds her official title. Haron criticized the mayor for protecting the assistant rather than addressing the issue seriously. Olivier Faure, a PS primary candidate and municipal councilor, called for Duclau's resignation, stating such remarks are unacceptable. Duclau responded that she would leave the decision to the mayor. Meanwhile, Julie Garnier, a regional councilor from La France insoumise (LFI), criticized Duclau on social media. Duclau then filed a defamation complaint and received legal protection from the PS mayor, covering her legal costs. Bisson defended the protection as a right for elected officials, but Haron argued that public funds were being used to defend a personal mistake. Bisson said he would remove the protection in a future council vote. The situation escalated further when Josua Sakti Haron was excluded from the municipal majority, a move he attributed to his report to SOS Racism and his refusal to stay silent. Bisson denied this, citing a verbal altercation with another councilor. The dispute has added uncertainty to the PS primary elections, which will take place in early October.