Former French President François Hollande is preparing a return to national politics ahead of the 2027 presidential election by securing Paris campaign offices.
Hollande, who currently serves as a member of parliament for Corrèze, plans to position himself as an alternative option for the French left if his rival Raphaël Glucksmann falters in upcoming polling.
His entourage indicated that any official announcement on his candidacy would not take place until December, eight months before the scheduled presidential vote.
Supporters of the former president have already leased a 90-square-meter campaign space in central Paris through the end of the year. Drôme elected official Wilfrid Pailhès stated that the team would move to larger headquarters if Hollande receives the nomination, but would close the location if Glucksmann is selected by the left in December.
Glucksmann, a Member of the European Parliament who leads the Place publique party, is currently the frontrunner to represent the centre-left. He is preparing to participate in a primary with the Socialist Party to secure the party machinery for the 2027 campaign.
Political book and upcoming debate
To lay the groundwork for his potential bid, Hollande is launching a new book titled Unir. Nouveau monde, nouvelle gauche, published by Éditions Robert Laffont on September 3. His team explained that the work outlines a ten-year vision for France and presents specific policy proposals.
According to his advisors, the book addresses three core questions: preparing the nation's future around its youth, protecting citizens domestically and internationally, and uniting the Republic against divisive forces. It also includes proposals on the future identity of the French left.
Hollande will begin a series of public appearances at the Socialist Party summer conference in Blois on August 28 to meet with party activists. On August 29, he is scheduled to participate in a public debate in Sens, located in the Yonne department, alongside former prime minister and Horizons presidential candidate Édouard Philippe to discuss perspectives for France in 2027.
Birthday posters and previous presidential bid
The preparation follows a birthday initiative organized by his allies for his 72nd birthday. Supporters plastered 500 pop-art style posters across the country highlighting achievements from his presidency, which were subsequently shared across social media platforms.
The posters featured slogans noting that 650,000 French citizens retired during his term and that 8 million low-income taxpayers received tax exemptions under his administration. Pailhès, who organized the effort alongside Libourne mayor Philippe Buisson, confirmed that Hollande was unaware of the surprise but welcomed the gesture and received more than 500 birthday messages.
This initiative represents Hollande's second effort to stage a political comeback since leaving the Élysée Palace. During the 2022 presidential campaign, he attempted to bypass Socialist nominee Anne Hidalgo, though that bid ultimately failed to materialize.
Hollande served as President of France from 2012 to 2017 as the leader of the Socialist Party. He elected not to seek a second term in 2017 before returning to parliament as a National Assembly deputy in 2024.
