Mélenchon Launches Presidential Campaign with 'Revolutionary' Plan to Reshape France

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the radical left-wing leader of "La France Insoumise" (France Unbowed), announced an election program he described as "revolutionary," which includes drastic changes to the French economy, political system, and society. Key measures include the nationalization of strategic sectors and government control over prices, according to the Financial Times.

During a large rally on Saturday in "Seine-Saint-Denis," a low-income area north of Paris with a majority immigrant population, Mélenchon stated that France and the world need renewal in the name of social justice.

He added: "I have one proposal for you: it is time to change everything." He continued: "The France of rebellion and revolution, this is our dear homeland to which we all belong," thereby reclaiming a slogan used by far-right parties.

The 75-year-old politician, known for his opposition to globalization and skepticism toward the European Union, is making his fourth attempt to win the French presidency, while his popularity increases in opinion polls.

Mélenchon attracted approximately 20,000 people to the rally held in the stronghold of his party, "La France Insoumise," in the "Seine-Saint-Denis" region.

Rising in Opinion Polls
Opinion polls conducted by Ipsos and Ifop in late October showed him receiving about 18% of voting intentions in the first round of the presidential elections scheduled for next year, bringing him close to qualifying for the second round, where he is likely to face far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who tops the race with a significant lead at around 35%.

All second-round polls show Mélenchon losing significantly to Le Pen, but public opinion trends remain subject to change during the remaining months before the elections scheduled for April 2027.

Mélenchon has gained electoral momentum since last September, after announcing his support for widespread protests against the education system and rising living costs, which turned into a serious challenge to President Emmanuel Macron's government.

This week saw approximately 600,000 people demonstrate, the largest crowd since the protest movement began in September, increasing political tensions and reinforcing polarization in the country.

The French presidential elections are particularly important for the future of France's relationship with the European Union, as both Mélenchon and Le Pen have pledged to break with the status quo on issues including the single European market and combating climate change.

On Saturday, Mélenchon renewed his call for adopting a "non-aligned" French foreign policy, warning against being dragged into the Russian-Ukrainian war, and criticizing what he described as "US dominance over the international order."

The leftist candidate rejected predictions indicating his loss to Le Pen in the second round, saying: "This is what they also said about Lula," referring to the return of the newly elected Brazilian leftist president for a new term, adding: "We will fight until the last second, and in the end, we will win."

State Economic Control
The party's economic program calls for expanding the "welfare state," implementing widespread nationalizations including highways and airports, increasing state control over the banking sector and strategic industries, as well as imposing government controls on food, energy, and fuel prices.

Mélenchon also proposes lowering the retirement age to 60 years, compared to approximately 63 years currently.

The party did not specify the total cost of its program, but the proposed policies involve significant government spending and tax increases. France already suffers from the second-largest deficit in the Eurozone, with expectations reaching 5.4% of GDP by the end of this year.

Mélenchon wants to convert €600 billion of French public debt held by the European Central Bank into interest-free loans that never need to be repaid, an idea he previously described as throwing debt into the fire.

The party seeks to eliminate what it calls the "dominance of the financial sector" over the economy, and to limit the widening gap between incomes by restricting the difference between the highest and lowest salaries within companies.

It also proposes ending continuous stock trading, imposing restrictions on dividend distributions, and confiscating inherited wealth exceeding €12 million.

Mélenchon said: "Capitalism is a concrete problem, therefore the radical left has concrete solutions."

The program also includes adopting a state-led environmental planning system aimed at directing investments and production, alongside phasing out nuclear energy and replacing it with renewable energy sources.

Changing the Political System
Mélenchon's proposals are not limited to the economy but include reshaping political institutions and the French social model.

He suggests replacing the Fifth Republic constitution with a new constitution, adopting proportional representation in elections, expanding citizens' powers through referendums, and lowering the voting age from 18 to 16.

The "La France Insoumise" party pledged to combat racism and discrimination, and its leaders attacked the far-right "National Rally" party led by Le Pen during the rally due to its controversial policies, including prioritizing French citizens for social assistance.

Mélenchon directed sharp criticism at Le Pen amidst supportive cheers from attendees, saying: "The first line of defense against racism is each one of us."

Gaza at the Forefront of Foreign Policy
Regarding international issues, Mélenchon places the Israeli war on Gaza and Israeli settlement in the West Bank at the forefront of his foreign policy priorities within the program for the 2027 French presidential elections, accusing French authorities of complicity in the "genocide" in Gaza.

The document also accuses President Emmanuel Macron of following a "diplomatic double standard" by "not condemning wars of aggression against Lebanon and Iran in the same way he condemned the war of aggression against Ukraine." Conversely, the Ukrainian issue occupies a marginal position in the document, overshadowed by Middle East developments which receive much greater attention.

The "Common Future" document avoids addressing the Russian threat, nor does it seek to clarify "La France Insoumise"'s ambiguous stance on providing military support to the Ukrainian army, as it does not address the issue at all, according to Le Monde.

The document indicates Mélenchon's intention to "work on creating a diplomatic framework ensuring a ceasefire," and the "withdrawal of Russian forces," before "reconvening the Paris Conference for a New Europe," referring to the 1990 conference that examined options available to Europe after the Cold War, with Russia participating.