The candidate for the presidential elections announced on June 9, Karim Bouamran, has opposed the idea of a “witness candidacy,” ensuring that he will advance to the second round in 2027.
The mayor of Saint-Ouen, Karim Boumran, a socialist, defended himself this Monday, June 29, against being nominated as a “recommendation candidate” in the next presidential election, although several contenders are already on the starting line of 2027.
“I will do everything to become the next president of the republic. This is not a recommendation at all,” the mayor of Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis), re-elected in March, said on Europe 1/CNews.
“I have more and more support. Whether from the Cevennes, Brittany, Picardy or from the overseas territories, things are going well, we are confident,” he added.
The still little-known Karim Bouamran, who declared himself a candidate in early June, assured that he “(will) be in the second round” and rejected the idea that the National Rally would be “automatically” present in the second round.
In open conflict with La France insoumise, he confronts the “two extremes” with which he says he struggles. He recently criticized Eric Coquerel’s “colored mayors” formula, calling the rebel MP’s remarks “worthy of Code Noir.”
Karim Bouamran, a former IT executive and the son of Moroccan immigrants, was one of the first city councilors of North African descent to lead the city of more than 50,000 people.
“I represent a French left-wing republican who fights for social democracy, who is Muslim, and this could create a problem,” he said, denouncing criticism of his candidacy.
“The only ones who make me invisible and despise me are often the barons of the Socialist Party and the barons of the left,” complained the Socialist, who is also in conflict with PS head Olivier Faure, whose resignation he demanded after the municipal elections.
On the left, several candidates for 2027 have already announced themselves, such as the socialist Jérôme Guedge, the environmentalist Marine Tondelier or the former rebels François Ruffin and Clémentine Autin.
Others are expected, such as Place publique’s Raphael Glucksmann, who is currently top of the polls, as well as former President Francois Hollande and former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
“They are warming up, stretching, they may be candidates for possible candidacy,” quipped Karim Bouamran. “In the meantime, I am a candidate, I am determined, we are coming together,” he concluded.