Olivier Faure, the first secretary of France's Socialist Party (PS), announced on Tuesday his support for a broader primary process that would include François Ruffin, a prominent left-wing figure known for his controversial political views. Faure's proposal aims to bring together various left-wing factions into a single primary, ranging from Ruffin to Raphaël Glucksmann, a candidate from the Place publique party. The goal is to unite the "social and ecological left" under one candidate, according to Faure, who emphasized the need for a unified voice in the upcoming elections. Raphaël Glucksmann, who is running in the left-wing primary, strongly opposed the idea of expanding the primary to include Ruffin. He urged Faure to respect the decisions made by socialist members and to follow the established rules of the process. On September 8, Glucksmann reiterated his position, stating that the rules should not be altered midway through the election process. He pledged to respect the rules even if he lost and criticized Faure for not honoring the votes of PS members. Faure explained his stance on BFMTV-RMC, stating that he wanted to create a primary that could unite the entire left, from Ruffin to Glucksmann, to ensure a single candidate could represent the democratic, social, and ecological values of the left. This initiative is seen as an effort to consolidate left-wing support and prevent a potential victory for right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen. François Ruffin, a presidential candidate and leader of the Debout party, responded positively to the idea of an expanded primary. In a message on X, he said, "For me, it's yes," and emphasized that left-wing groups should remain distinct in their spaces to avoid defeat. He criticized the idea of merging different factions, calling for boldness and risk-taking instead of political maneuvering. Ruffin also praised the two-euro participation fee proposed by Faure, which is significantly lower than the current 10 to 15 euros required for the existing primary. In his message, Ruffin also challenged Glucksmann to a public debate to explain his stance on the issue.