The French Socialist party primary vote has been extended by one day due to a cyberattack that disrupted the online voting system. The vote, which began on Friday at 8am, was immediately affected by a massive artificial surge in connections, significantly slowing down the process. By 7pm on Friday, only 20,000 people had accessed the site. The primary's organizing committee reported that the cyberattack did not halt the process but caused significant delays.
The online voting system was secured by defense systems, and the integrity of the voting process was not compromised, according to reassurances from candidates Olivier Faure and Raphael Glucksmann on social media platform X. The National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) and the cybercrime unit of the Paris public prosecutor's office have been called in to investigate the cyberattack. The primary is crucial in determining the Socialist party's candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The primary features five contenders, including Raphael Glucksmann, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Place Publique, and Olivier Faure, the leader of the Socialist Party (PS). Other candidates include Ségolène Royal, who ran in the 2007 presidential election, Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj, and Emmanuel Maurel, an MP for the Republican and Socialist Left (GRS). The result is expected to be made public shortly after the closing of voting on Sunday.
By 8am on Saturday, 71,250 voters had accessed the site, representing more than half of those registered to vote. A total of 140,000 voters are set to choose their presidential candidate from among the five contenders. The primary comes just months before the 2027 election to choose a successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron. The far-right veteran candidate Marine Le Pen is currently riding high in the polls despite a graft conviction.
The voter turnout so far has exceeded expectations, but this primary falls short of the one that paved the way for François Hollande's victory in 2012, which saw between 2.6 and 2.8 million voters. Glucksmann is polling at 10-12 percent in presidential voting intentions and hopes to win in the first round, while Faure is hovering between 3 and 5 percent.
If a second round is necessary, it will take place on October 16 and 17. The investigation into the cyberattack is ongoing, with the ANSSI and the cybercrime unit working to determine the cause and extent of the attack. The French government has taken steps to reassure voters and candidates that the integrity of the voting process has not been compromised.
The extended vote will conclude on Sunday, with the result expected to be made public shortly after. The primary's outcome will have significant implications for the 2027 presidential election, with the chosen candidate facing off against other contenders, including Marine Le Pen. The French government and election officials are working to ensure the integrity and security of the voting process.
Key points
- The French Socialist party primary vote was extended due to a cyberattack that disrupted the online voting system.
- The primary features five contenders, including Raphael Glucksmann and Olivier Faure.
- The result of the primary is expected to be made public shortly after the closing of voting on Sunday.
