Mélenchon Targets Le Pen in Final French Presidential Run
The 75-year-old leftist launches his fourth campaign from Le Bourget, seeking a head-to-head match against the far right on May 2.
By Anthony Foster ·
Jean-Luc Mélenchon addressed 20,000 supporters in a large hall in Le Bourget, a suburb north of Paris, on Saturday. The 75-year-old candidate, running for the fourth time, told the crowd that everything must change. He is seeking a place in the second round of the French presidential election, which is scheduled for May 2, 2027.
Mélenchon has previously failed to advance to the final vote. In the 2022 election, he fell short by 421,308 votes. His current strategy relies on mobilizing young voters and residents of Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest department in metropolitan France. He frames these voters as the demographic that will define a new, more diverse France.
The campaign is positioned as a direct challenge to Marine Le Pen, the far-right favorite. If Le Pen wins, she would gain control of the Élysée Palace and France's nuclear arsenal, a result Mélenchon has opposed for 50 years. A victory for Mélenchon would remove France, the only nuclear power in the European Union, from NATO. He also proposes a debt strategy that could conflict with the European Central Bank.
Critics compare Mélenchon to Donald Trump, noting his large crowds and self-assured tone. A far-right mayor has labeled him the Donald Trump of the left. In 2018, he was convicted for shouting at police during a raid on his party's offices. He recently dismissed former President François Hollande, claiming Hollande only filled one-third of a similar venue while Mélenchon fills it completely.
The candidate's platform includes more than 1,000 points. Key proposals include lowering the voting age to 16, restoring retirement at 60, increasing taxes on the wealthy, and pausing artificial intelligence development. The centerpiece of his plan is a new constitution to replace the Fifth Republic established in 1958. He wants a special assembly of citizens to draft this document for a public vote.
Mélenchon has aligned himself with recent student protests over school conditions and cost-of-living riots that occurred in over 20 cities. He warned the government not to touch the youth. Supporters like Jamal Santos, a 22-year-old student, say they feel heard by his message. The old political order, represented by socialists and Republicans, received only 6.5% of the vote in the first round of the 2022 election.
The next step is securing the second place finish in the first round. Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is also running to face Le Pen. If center-right voters unite, they may prevent a second round between Mélenchon and the far right. Mélenchon plans to maintain his aggressive tone, refusing to lower his voice despite advice from commentators.
