Marine Tondelier proposes bilateral talks with all French left parties after primary failure

A new opening after the primary failure

Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the Écologistes and candidate for the 2027 presidential election, has proposed bilateral meetings to every left-wing formation in France, eight months before the vote. The initiative, announced in an interview with La Tribune dimanche on 16 August 2026, follows the collapse of her attempt to organise a unified primary with the Socialist Party (PS). The PS had refused to participate in an open primary, according to Ouest France. Tondelier says she still hopes to ward off what she calls the chronicle of an announced defeat for the left at the presidential election. She has extended her hand to the PS, the French Communist Party (PCF), La France Insoumise (LFI), and Place publique, as well as to regionalist movements.

“We are ready to rediscuss with everyone on the left, without exclusion.”

A letter to all left formations

A letter, whose copy was obtained by the AFP, was addressed to all left-wing parties from LFI to Place publique, and to regionalist movements. Co-signed by Tondelier and other Écologistes leaders, it poses a direct question to each formation. The Écologistes say they are ready to work, to discuss, and to build a shared project, and ask whether their counterparts are also ready to engage in discussions. The letter proposes bilateral meetings to discuss project, strategy, and to forge a path to victory with those who wish it. The initiative comes days before the summer universities of the Écologistes, the Insoumis, and the PCF. The PS will hold its own summer university at the end of August.

Conditions for a common platform

Tondelier insists that any common political space must rest on solid foundations. Among the conditions she lists: ecological transition and planning, an exit from fossil fuels, the establishment of a climate welfare state (État providence climatique), the end of the race for growth, and the construction of a federal Europe that never compromises on its values of welcome, solidarity, and democracy. She argues that the left must collectively project itself into the exercise of power, and that legislative elections must obviously be discussed, in anticipation of a dissolution that should follow the presidential election.

“We must, together, project ourselves into the exercise of power.”

Warning against division and maintained candidacy

Tondelier cautions that a divided left would likely pay a heavy price in legislative elections. She warns that division will probably lead to the elimination of the left in the first round in many constituencies. She maintains her own candidacy for the Élysée, responding to questions about whether she would withdraw by saying the real question is rather why she would cease to be a candidate. She assures that her ballot will never be the one that makes the National Rally win.

“Division will likely lead to an elimination of the left from the first round in many constituencies.”

“We are making each of them a proposal for a bilateral meeting with the aim of discussing project, strategy, and forging with those who wish it a path to victory.”