François Hollande : présidentielle 2027

Parti socialiste · Deputy for Corrèze, former President of the Republic (2012-2017)

Statut : Not declared, tipped as a candidate. He refused to take part in the PS and Place publique primary won by Raphaël Glucksmann on 11 October 2026. He says he will announce in December 2026 whether he is a candidate and has not ruled it out. On 27 October 2026 in Quimper, he denied being on a campaign trip and said he could not campaign without a return to calm.

Born in Rouen, François Hollande led the Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008, then served as President of the Republic from 2012 to 2017, without seeking re-election. Back as deputy for Corrèze in 2024, he published “Unir. Nouveau monde, nouvelle gauche”, a programme book of 80 proposals, on 3 September 2026.

François Hollande: ten key proposals

  1. Set the legal retirement age at around 63 from 1 January 2028. (Retraites)
  2. Limit pension indexation to 1% for five years. (Retraites)
  3. Add a controlled funded component to pensions, overseen by the social partners. (Retraites)
  4. Raise net salaries by about 10% by cutting employee social contributions. (Pouvoir d'achat)
  5. Gradually raise the standard VAT rate from 20% to 24%. (Fiscalité)
  6. Tax large inheritances and estates above €10 million gross. (Fiscalité)
  7. Raise employee representation on boards of directors to 30%. (Emploi)
  8. Provide a €10,000 “entrée dans la vie” cheque to young people in civic service. (Éducation et jeunesse)
  9. Cut class sizes in primary schools to 19 pupils. (Éducation et jeunesse)
  10. Tighten family reunification rules and set quotas for labor immigration. (Immigration)

Campaign team

  • Wilfrid Pailhès : Spokesperson for the initiative and initiator of the support posters, according to AFP
  • Philippe Buisson : Mayor of Libourne, co-initiator of the support posters, according to AFP
  • Rémy Goubert : President of Jeunes avec Hollande (interview with Libération on 30 October 2026)

Positions for the 2027 election, issue by issue

Energy

He wants to give nuclear power a central role in decarbonization and the country's independence.

  • Revise the timetable for reducing nuclear power's share.
  • Make nuclear power a pillar of decarbonization and energy independence.
  • Temporarily cut VAT on fuel.

Ecology and environment

No detailed position published at this stage.

    Immigration

    He claims “firmness on core state functions and immigration” in his book “Unir”.

    • Tighten the rules on family reunification.
    • Set annual volumes for labour immigration.
    • Adopt a firm line on immigration.

    Purchasing power

    He proposes raising net wages by about 10% by shifting part of contributions to VAT.

    • Raise net wages by about 10% for everyone.
    • Lower employee contributions to narrow the gap between gross and net pay.
    • Finance through VAT and a more progressive tax on financial income.
    • Temporarily cut VAT on fuel.

    Employment and work

    He defends the supply-side policy of his five-year term and wants to strengthen the role of employees in the company.

    • Raise employee representation on boards of directors to 30%.
    • Cut production taxes by reducing business subsidies.
    • Cut employee contributions to raise net pay.

    Critical metals and industry

    He wants a core group of European states to steer future industries.

    • Entrust six to eight European states with steering future industries.
    • Cut production taxes by reducing business subsidies.

    Innovation and digital

    He bets on digital education and closer European cooperation on artificial intelligence.

    • Provide each pupil with a digital assistant called « e-Aristote ».
    • Steer digital policy and artificial intelligence with six to eight European states.

    Pensions

    He proposes a legal age of around 63 in 2028, without a return to 62.

    • Set the legal age at around 63 as of 1 January 2028.
    • Then adjust the contribution period to life expectancy, under the management of the social partners.
    • Limit pension indexation to 1% for five years.
    • Add a share of funded pensions controlled by the social partners.

    Health

    No detailed position published at this stage.

      Security and justice

      He claims firmness on sovereign matters, with prison sentences from the first offence.

      • Impose prison sentences, including short ones, from the first offence.
      • Adopt a firm line on sovereign matters.

      Education and youth

      He wants to reduce class sizes in primary schools and strengthen civic service for young people.

      • Cut class sizes in primary schools to 19 pupils.
      • Create a “national Erasmus” lasting one week between distant lycées.
      • Expand civic service to 300,000 young people, with a free driving licence.
      • Pay a 10,000 euro “entry into adult life” grant at the end of civic service.

      Gender equality

      No detailed position published at this stage.

        Debt and public finances

        He calls for a negotiated budget and asks pensions and large fortunes to contribute.

        • Negotiate the budget rather than mechanically censuring the government.
        • Limit pension indexation to 1% for five years.
        • Tax large inheritances and gross assets above 10 million euros.
        • Not renew the voluntary national service, which it considers costly.

        Europe

        He defends a multi-speed Europe and a strengthened strategic autonomy for the Union.

        • Create a core group of six to eight states for industry, digital technology, AI and defence.
        • Strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union.
        • Defend France's place within the European Union.

        Defence

        He wants a European defence led by a core group of states and rejects compulsory national service.

        • Abolish the Voluntary National Service, deemed costly and militarily of little use.
        • Create a voluntary civic service of six to twelve months, with no obligation.
        • Steer defence with a group of six to eight European states.

        International

        Il veut affirmer l'indépendance de la France face aux États-Unis et à la Russie.

        • Affirmer l'indépendance de la France vis-à-vis des États-Unis et de la Russie.
        • Renforcer l'Europe face à la Russie, à la Chine et aux États-Unis.

        Logement et immobilier

        François Hollande n'a pas encore détaillé de propositions logement et s'en tient à des constats.

        • Juger le logement « une question fondamentale, notamment pour la jeune génération » (septembre 2026, selon Batiweb)
        • Souligner le ralentissement de la construction neuve dans le logement privé (septembre 2026, selon Batiweb)
        • Qualifier les mesures logement de Marine Le Pen de « toutes plus délirantes les unes que les autres » (septembre 2026, selon SeLoger)

        Territoires, ruralité et outre-mer

        François Hollande propose un acte majeur de décentralisation soumis à référendum.

        • Propose un « acte majeur de décentralisation » soumis à référendum (septembre 2026, selon Acteurs publics)
        • Veut transférer aux territoires l'écologie, le logement et l'action économique (septembre 2026, selon Acteurs publics)
        • Préfère réduire la taille et les compétences des collectivités plutôt que supprimer des échelons (septembre 2026, selon Acteurs publics)
        • Souhaite étendre la décentralisation à la Corse et accorder une autonomie accrue aux outre-mer (septembre 2026, selon Acteurs publics)
        • Propose que seuls les sénateurs puissent exercer un mandat local en plus du leur (septembre 2026, selon Acteurs publics)

        Latest statements

        • 2026-10-29, Visit to the Vienne department (Chenevelles, Châtellerault), reported by La Nouvelle République : « He has left his intentions for the presidential election unclear, without declaring himself a candidate. »
        • 2026-10-28, Video and message on X about Barack Obama : « “When what is essential is at stake, you have to go for it, and he is going for it” »
        • 2026-10-28, Video and message on X about Barack Obama : « Barack Obama got into the campaign by denouncing Trump »
        • 2026-10-27, Visit to the Armor Lux factory in Quimper, part of a tour of Brittany, reported by France 3 : « “We will not be able to campaign until there is a return to calm, stability and dialogue.” »
        • 2026-10-12, Centenary of the Unccas at the Maison de la Radio, the day after Raphaël Glucksmann's victory in the primary : « “Unity cannot be the unity of the socialists alone.” »
        • 2026-10-12, Interview with France 3 Limousin the day after the socialist primary : « He wants to “rally more broadly” than the primary and set a December date for his decision. »
        • 2026-09-15, Face à BFM, BFMTV : « “If I can appear as one of the solutions, I will serve my country.” »

        Sa veille presse quotidienne

        Videos

        Updated: 2026-11-03T08:53+01:00