Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed party (La France insoumise), staged a major campaign rally near Paris on 7 November, one day after publishing his manifesto and book, L’Avenir en commun (A Shared Future). The event is part of an effort to consolidate support ahead of next spring’s presidential election, where Mélenchon currently sits in second place.
According to an IFOP poll for broadcaster LCI conducted from 27 to 29 October, Mélenchon holds 17.6% of voting intentions, trailing far-right National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen, who leads with 36%. The gap underscores the fragmented nature of the French political landscape, with several candidates still vying for a place in the second round.
Eurosceptic platform with a redistributive edge
The manifesto outlines a distinctly eurosceptic agenda, calling for the scrapping of EU rules and regulations that do not align with French interests, including those related to the migration pact and European defence. France Unbowed also reiterates its demand to reduce France’s net contribution to the EU budget by around €9 billion, a proposal previously voiced by the party’s finance spokesman, Eric Coquerel.
This stance bears some resemblance to that of the National Rally, which has pledged to dismantle a range of EU regulations, particularly in business, agriculture, energy, and environmental policy. However, the two parties’ euroscepticism stems from different ideological foundations: while both advocate greater national sovereignty and challenge aspects of European integration, their priorities diverge sharply on economic and social issues.
On foreign policy, the manifesto gives less prominence to Russia’s war against Ukraine than to France’s relationship with Israel. It accuses the government of allowing “a genocide to be committed” in Gaza and condemns what it describes as “diplomatic double standards.” On Ukraine, the document backs “a diplomatic framework that would make it possible to secure a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops,” alongside a gradual withdrawal from NATO, as part of a broader policy of military independence and non-alignment.
Domestic agenda: retirement at 60, tax hikes, and public spending
Domestically, France Unbowed proposes lowering the retirement age to 60, increasing the minimum wage, introducing legislation to curb media ownership concentration, and expanding public services. The party also calls for tax increases on wealthy individuals and major corporations, along with the removal of several tax breaks.
According to the party’s proposed 2027 budget, these measures would generate an estimated €106.4 billion in additional annual revenue. Of that, €81.7 billion would finance extra public spending, with the remainder contributing to reducing France’s public deficit. This comes as France grapples with one of the highest public debt levels in the eurozone, a situation that has raised concerns among financial markets and drawn scrutiny from the European Union.
Mélenchon’s proposal to freeze or effectively cancel part of France’s public debt held by the Banque de France, as part of the wider Eurosystem overseen by the European Central Bank, has sparked controversy in recent months. Critics argue such a move would undermine the credibility of the eurozone’s monetary framework, while supporters see it as a necessary step to alleviate the country’s fiscal burden.
The rally and manifesto launch come at a time of heightened political tension in France, with the government facing mass strikes over the budget crisis. Mélenchon’s campaign will likely seek to capitalise on public discontent, positioning himself as the champion of social justice and national sovereignty.
As the election approaches, the race remains fluid, with Mélenchon’s ability to broaden his appeal beyond the hard-left base a key question. His eurosceptic and redistributive platform may resonate with voters disillusioned by mainstream politics, but it also risks alienating those who favour deeper European integration.
