As expected, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise (LFI), who once said he wanted to step aside for a new generation and a “new France”, is running for French president for the fourth time in the 2027 election.
His candidacy, announced on May 3 on French TV channel TF1, came with the claim that he was the “best equipped” to handle the current situation.
But what exactly is that situation? A turbulent France facing the threat of war, climate crisis and ongoing economic and social tensions — all of which, according to Mélenchon, only he is capable of addressing. He presents himself as a man of “experience”.
He also insists that his camp is the most prepared: “One candidate, one team, one programme,” unlike what he described as the many “solid and structured” candidacies on the Left and in the political centre.
As always, Mélenchon defends grand ideas and sweeping principles typical of the hard Left: Higher taxation on large corporations, price controls on fuel, retirement at 60, France leaving NATO and, of course, the creation of a Sixth Republic.
According to him: “The world does not want war.”
TF1 presenter Anne-Sophie Lapix asked him what he meant by “new France”, a term he had previously used when describing France’s demographic transformation as “the great replacement”.
Mélenchon strongly rejects accusations of communitarianism or of “racialising” public discourse. Some on the Left, though, still criticise him for this approach, accusing him of dividing the Republic.
He defended himself by saying that “new France” simply reflected demographic reality: One-third of French people have at least one foreign-born parent and one in two families has moved from its original region.
On security, he says this “new France” rejects discrimination and racism.
But when it comes to policing and public safety, he remains vague. According to him, what harms the people is privilege and racism. Beyond that, he offers little detail.
On security policy, he argues for bringing the police closer to the population, in a calmer and less confrontational relationship. It is a somewhat idealistic stance, especially considering that in 2025 alone, 160 police officers were reportedly attacked. He also added that the police must “change”.
The National Rally (RN) remains LFI’s main opponent. Mélenchon claims his party will “crush” it in the election. He closed his interview with the slogan: “All together, or everyone for themselves.”
Mélenchon, currently polling at around 10 per cent — far behind the RN at about 35 per cent — remains highly visible at the start of the campaign. In 2022, he reached 150,000 supporters in just one week; today, he already claims 120,000.
According to the latest Odoxa barometer for Public Sénat, 72 per cent of respondents disapprove of the LFI leader, making him currently one of the least popular political figures in France.
