Cyberattack Extends PS Primary as Glucksmann Holds Lead

Overview

• A mass cyberattack struck the primary’s online voting platform at the opening of the ballot on Friday, producing a surge of fake connections that slowed access and prompted an extension of voting.
• Organizers said the system resumed normal operation Friday evening and extended the ballot to Sunday at 18:00, reporting more than 107,000 votes cast by Saturday 22:00.
• Raphaël Glucksmann enters the count as the clear favourite, with polls putting him around 10–12% and Olivier Faure trailing at roughly 3–5%, and Glucksmann has said he hopes to win in the first round.
• Participation so far is far below past PS primaries, with about 140,000 registered for this electronic vote versus millions in 2012 and 2017, and many registrants signed up on a dedicated platform rather than being long-term party members.
• The organising commission’s president called the incident 'an attack against French democracy,' and the disruption increases pressure on organisers to prove the result’s integrity and on candidates to mend internal divisions before a possible runoff on October 16–17.