On January 22, the French left is holding the first round of a primary to designate its candidate for the presidential election. But as the contenders hold rallies across the country, the winner is slated to be only a bit player in this April's election. Other rivals are well ahead in the polls: on the right and the far-right, but also on the left, where the future Socialist candidate is lagging behind far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and rising star Emmanuel Macron.