Key facts
- Former French President Francois Hollande may run for president in 2027.
- Hollande will only consider running if he sees a realistic chance of winning.
- Hollande served as France's president from 2012 to 2017.
- The next French presidential election is in spring 2027.
Former French Socialist President Francois Hollande indicated he might consider running for president in 2027, but only if he believes there is a genuine opportunity to win. In an interview with Italian daily la Repubblica, Hollande, 72, who was president from 2012 to 2017, stated that running for the presidency is a significant decision, especially for a former head of state. He specified that he would only contemplate a run under exceptional circumstances and if there was a realistic prospect of reaching the final runoff and securing victory. The French presidential election is slated for the spring of 2027. Recent polling suggests far-right leader Marine Le Pen is leading for the first round, with far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon in second place in most tested scenarios. Édouard Philippe, a former Prime Minister under Emmanuel Macron, is the only center-right candidate shown to be ahead of Melenchon in one scenario and tied with him in another. Hollande also commented on the current global landscape, noting that France in 2027 would face a more threatening and dangerous world, with Europe confronting an existential crisis and being a target for powers like the United States, China, and Russia.