PARIS — French commentator turned politician Raphael Glucksmann was on Sunday expected to announce his candidacy for France’s presidential election next year, entering a field that is crowded even just on the left wing of France’s political spectrum.

Former essayist Glucksmann, 46, is a European parliament deputy and son of the late renowned Jewish philosopher Andre Glucksmann. He leads the center-left party Place Publique, and is expected to use a primetime interview on French television Sunday night to declare he is entering the race.

His move is expected to have the immediate consequence that his partner, the journalist Lea Salame, a top news reader on public France 2 TV, will announce she is stepping aside to avoid any conflict of interest in the campaign.

Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen scents her best-ever chance of winning the Elysee but a host of candidates in the centrist camp of President Emmanuel Macron, who is not allowed to serve another term, as well as the left have announced they will be contenders.

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is planning to run, Greens leader Marine Tondelier is campaigning while pregnant, and Socialist Party (PS) leader Olivier Faure and even possibly ex-president Francois Hollande........

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