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French left-wing’s Melenchon says he will run for president in 2027
TL;DR
Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of France's left-wing Unbowed party, announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. This marks his fourth attempt, following previous runs in 2012, 2017, and 2022.
Key points
- Jean-Luc Melenchon announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election
- This is Melenchon's fourth presidential run
- He previously ran in 2012, 2017, and 2022
- In 2022, he garnered 22 percent of the vote
- Melenchon aims to increase his electoral support
Mentioned in this story
Jean-Luc MelenchonUnbowed partyMarine Le PenEmmanuel Macron
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leading politician in France’s left-wing Unbowed party, says he will run in next year’s presidential election, setting up a potential showdown with centrist and right-wing rivals.
“Yes, I am a candidate,” the 74-year-old told TF1 TV on Sunday.
It is Melenchon’s fourth presidential bid; he also ran in 2012, 2017 and 2022, when he came third behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen and French President Emmanuel Macron, who made it to the second round of voting.
Melenchon has been growing his share of the vote with each campaign.
In 2012, he had only 11 percent support, but in the last election, he came close to clinching a run-off spot. He won 22 percent of the vote and was only 1.2 percentage points behind Le Pen.
France’s Unbowed party, known by its French acronym LFI, has been a prominent and vocal critic of Israel and its genocidal war on Gaza.
Melenchon described the assault as genocide, and has called for the suspension of the European Union’s association agreement with Israel.
The left-wing leader has backed Spain’s position against the US-Israel war on Iran.
LFI has championed strong environmental regulations and higher taxes on the rich.
With Macron unable to run because of term limits, and Le Pen facing a ban from politics – which she is challenging in court – the 2027 race is wide open.
The election will be held in April, and if no candidate secures a majority in the first round, the run-off will be two weeks later.
Macron – a centrist who formed his Renaissance political party in 2016 – has seen his public support collapse in recent years during economic and government crises.
No political party was able to win a majority in the 2024 political elections, leaving any government vulnerable to no-confidence votes if opposition parties unite against it. The resulting instability has led France to have several governments and prime ministers over the past two years.
Melenchon’s LFI is the largest party in the New Popular Front – a coalition of left-wing groups and the third largest bloc in the National Assembly.
Q&A
What is Jean-Luc Melenchon's political background?
Jean-Luc Melenchon is the leader of France's left-wing Unbowed party and has run for president three times prior to his 2027 candidacy.
How did Melenchon perform in the 2022 presidential election?
In the 2022 election, Melenchon received 22 percent of the vote, finishing third behind Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron.
What are the implications of Melenchon's 2027 presidential bid?
Melenchon's candidacy could lead to a significant political showdown with centrist and right-wing candidates in the upcoming election.
