The leader of the "Proud France" party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a candidate for the 2027 presidential elections, praised on Saturday the movement led by high school and university students in France during the gathering he held to launch his election campaign and present his presidential program in "Le Bourget" on the outskirts of Paris. While the program criticizes German influence on the European Union's economic policy, it describes Berlin as the main defender in Europe of "Ordo-liberalism," or "organized liberalism."

Published on: 07/11/2026 - 16:51 Last updated: 07/11/2026 - 18:49

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Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the far-left candidate for the French presidency in 2027, praised it in a speech he delivered on Saturday during a large gathering in Le Bourget on the outskirts of Paris.

Mélenchon pledged to raise the minimum wage and return the retirement age in the country to 60 years, when he launched his program for the 2027 elections on Saturday.

The strongest candidate from the left

Mélenchon (75 years old) is seen as the strongest candidate from the left, and the latest opinion polls showed that he will reach the second round of the presidential elections next April against Marine Le Pen from the far right, but they also indicate that he will lose in the second round.

"Shared future"

It is noteworthy that his program is titled “A Shared Future,” which is the fifth version of the program of his party, “Proud France,” and largely reaffirms policies that formed the backbone of Mélenchon’s campaigns prior to the presidential elections.

In addition, among his main pledges is to cancel the pension reform approved by President Emmanuel Macron, which gradually raised the minimum retirement age in France from 62 to 64 years in an attempt to strengthen public finances. The "France Proud" party also says that it will return the retirement age to 60 years for those who have contributed to the system for 40 years.

Increase the minimum net monthly wage

The "Proud France" program calls for increasing the net minimum monthly wage from about 1,480 euros to 1,700 euros, and includes plans to abolish the unified tax on capital income, increase taxes on the wealthiest families, and set a ceiling on the prices of basic foodstuffs.

The party also confirms its support for the gradual abandonment of nuclear energy in favor of an electricity system that relies entirely on renewable energy, including canceling the planned EBR2 reactor program and not extending the life of nuclear power plants beyond 60 years.

Gradual withdrawal from NATO

As for foreign policy, Mélenchon’s program renews his long-standing criticism of NATO, and calls for France’s gradual withdrawal from the alliance, starting with the exit from its integrated military command.

The program also criticizes German influence on European Union economic policy, and describes Berlin as the main advocate in Europe of “ordo-liberalism,” or “orderly liberalism,” an economic philosophy based on strict budget rules, price stability, and an independent monetary policy.

It is noteworthy that the program also calls for greater protection for the local industry, including taking measures to encourage the transfer of production to France, and advocates a more interventionist role for the state in the economy.

France 24/Reuters

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