Boris Vallaud grants his supporters the freedom to vote as they wish in the PS congress second round.

Boris Vallaud, recently placing third in the first round of the Socialist Party (PS) congress, has decided to grant his supporters the  freedom to vote  for the second round. His faction will allow them to choose between the incumbent first secretary,  Olivier Faure , and Rouen’s mayor,  Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol . This decision was communicated Friday, May 30, through an official statement.

Vallaud’s faction garnered  17.41% of the votes , trailing behind the two leading candidates. As a result, his position within the race is no longer tenable for the subsequent round. “We will not all make the same choice on June 5 for the national first secretary vote,” he asserted, indicating that his supporters hail from both Faure and Mayer-Rossignol’s factions.

“Within Unir [Vallaud’s faction], we come from diverse backgrounds, and we cherish our diversity, which is our strength,” stated the announcement. Meanwhile, both candidates vying for leadership have begun courting Vallaud, who is now seen as a potential kingmaker in the race.

The current representative from  Lot ,  Rémi Branco , a close ally of Vallaud, shared with Agence France-Presse that members are permitted to express their personal opinions. He clarified that while Vallaud might take a personal stance, this will not reflect the collective decision of his supporters.

“A Pact for Governance”

Vallaud, positioning himself as a candidate for  “reconciliation”  within the party, aims to uphold not just the cohesion of his faction, but also that of the PS itself. Since the last divisive congress in  Marseille in 2023 , the party has struggled with internal rifts.

With the results of this first vote, Vallaud explained, “ no orientation text will hold an absolute majority  in our institutions, thereby making collaborative efforts essential.” His faction will propose a  “pact for governance”  to the newly elected first secretary, requesting an inclusive national direction that respects minority perspectives.

Additionally, they urge the new leader to consider various proposals, including the  “demarchandisation”  of society, the establishment of a  “Léon Blum academy,”  and the creation of an internal media outlet aimed at enhancing internal communication.

Members of Unir believe the PS can begin preparing immediately for the  2026 municipal elections  and the next presidential race. Their objective is to ensure the party occupies a central role in a unified left campaign, collaborating with figures such as  Raphaël Glucksmann  and  François Ruffin .