Overview
- Olivier Faure spent February 12–13 in Avignon backing Socialist list head David Fournier, urging voters to be a bulwark against the RN and calling an RN takeover his red line.
- The race carries added weight in Vaucluse, where the RN holds four of five parliamentary seats, after incumbent mayor Cécile Helle decided not to seek a third term.
- Invoking the racist targeting of newborn Zaïd, Faure pressed an inclusion message, saying every child in Avignon should feel at home regardless of name, origin or faith.
- Faure is promoting an October 11 left primary with Greens and ex-Insoumis allies, a plan opposed by François Hollande, Boris Vallaud and Jérôme Guedj, and refused by Raphaël Glucksmann.
- Socialist militants will decide on the primary after the March 15 and 22 municipal rounds, as Faure seeks greater visibility despite polling at roughly 5 percent.