Grégoire Wins Paris Socialist Primary: Hidalgo Faces Setback

An activist launches the small crowd of socialist activists: “Anne Hidalgo recognized Emmanuel Grégoire’s victory!”. Hourra with joy at the foot of the Stalingrad rotunda on Monday evening. “We come back from afar”breathes a socialist framework. A few moments earlier, shortly before midnight, the Parisian federation of the PS had just confirmed thatEmmanuel Grégoire had won the socialist primary with 52.61% of the votes (807 votes), against 44.33% for Rémi Féraud (680 votes) and 3% for Marion Waller (46 votes).

The ex -deputy premier therefore obtains the head of the list of socialists in Paris for the municipal elections of 2026. He also offers himself – even if he does not say it – a good revenge on Anne Hidalgo At the heart of this Parisian scorching night, like the countryside: sweltering from start to finish as it was misunderstood and fratricidal for Parisian socialists.

“Irrational”

Until the end, the mayor will have conducted the drum-beating drum against her ex-deputy prime, rather appreciated, and which she had taken under her wing in 2018, when he succeeded Bruno Julliard. Long expected to take over, dubbed by the councilor in private, Emmanuel Grégoire had ended up falling into disgrace at the town hall. The outgoing mayor reproached her for being too in a hurry, of trying to emancipate himself too quickly, to the point of evoking a “treason” From his right arm.

The tension had become such that its number 2 had taken advantage of the dissolution in June 2024 to leave the ship by being elected deputy from Paris. A few months later, when she confirms that she would not seek a third term, Anne Hidalgo officially supports Rémi Féraud’s candidacy. No one had seen him coming. “It’s irrational”conceded a relative of the mayor.

Behind the scenes, she encourages the district mayors to wet the shirt for their senator colleague. During the last debate between the three candidates last week, she even invited herself to the gallery to defend her foal. It was not enough. “I congratulate Emmanuel Grégoire for his designation. Thanks to Rémi Féraud for his beautiful campaign ”she said in a very sober press release, a few moments before the publication of official results.

Before socialist activists, and for the sake of appeasement, the ex-deputy prime premiere has applauded the mayor. “I thank Anne Hidalgo. It was by his side that I learned the love of Paris, that I learned that politics was made of convictions and determination. His support will be essential for the future “he assured, while saying that he will be “The defender of his assessment”.

“The hardest starts”

It remains to be seen what the mayor’s attitude will be in the coming days. So far, Anne Hidalgo has always said that she “Would do” what she “Would like” In the event of the victory of Emmanuel Grégoire in the primary. Rémi Féraud’s defeat, however, reveals in broad daylight her weak influence on the Parisian socialist federation which she had in her cause since her first election in 2014. As a sign from the beginning of the end of the reign which will be completed in 2026.

If the party continued on the night of Paris on Monday evening, “The hardest starts”from Emmanuel Grégoire’s confession. The new head of the list knows that it will not have a boulevard to the town hall. His right -wing rival, Rachida Dati, comes at the top of the voting intentions around 30% in the first round. On the left, environmentalists, rebellious and socialists are all gauged at the elbow between 15% and 20%.

“As of tomorrow, we will organize the gathering of the left to reinstall the leadership”promised Emmanuel Grégoire. “Unit, unit!“Asked the activists, even if the candidate has always said that he would refuse an alliance with rebellious France, in the first and in the second round. “Once we have managed to bring the left together, we will face the right, and the extreme right”hammered the new head of the list of socialists.